A driver swerved into oncoming traffic then crashed into a utility pole along a major Waukesha road, police say

Jim Riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·1 min read
A truck lies upended on a grassy area separating East Moreland Boulevard from two car dealerships west of Main Street early Tuesday afternoon. The truck struck a utility pole, which reportedly trapped the driver.
A truck lies upended on a grassy area separating East Moreland Boulevard from two car dealerships west of Main Street early Tuesday afternoon. The truck struck a utility pole, which reportedly trapped the driver.

WAUKESHA - A pickup truck Tuesday afternoon crashed into a utility pole off East Moreland Boulevard just west of Main Street, turning over and trapping the driver.

The incident was complicated by the discovery that the driver, who authorities believe suffered a "medical event," had a firearm, which delayed a medical response after the driver failed to answer questions by officers.

According to a preliminary report, Waukesha police said the driver was involved in an accident that involved two other vehicles in the 1900 block of East Moreland Boulevard about 12:51 p.m. The truck had crossed into oncoming traffic as the driver lost control, crashing just south of the eastbound lanes.

The firearm issue caused some safety concerns, police acknowledged.

"Our partnership and training with the Waukesha Fire Department was defined today while we ensured a safe scene for them to provide advance medical care to someone suffering from a medical event," Waukesha Police Capt. Dan Baumann said in a statement.

Once the accident scene was deemed safe, rescue workers extricated the driver, who was treated at the scene and then transported to a hospital.

The incident involved numerous squad and rescue vehicles as officers secured the area and diverted traffic away from the accident site, which was near the lot line separating two car dealerships, Griffin Ford and Boucher Buick GMC, on Waukesha's east side.

Eastbound traffic on Moreland was forced to turn left onto Ramona Road and onto Stardust Drive to navigate. The Wisconsin State Patrol also offered assistance.

Contact Jim Riccioli at (262) 446-6635 or james.riccioli@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jariccioli.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Truck flips after crash on Moreland Boulevard in Waukesha; 1 injured