Semi driver cited for DWI now faces felony

The driver of a semitractor-trailer who was cited for drunken driving in April after her truck was seen swerving across the southbound lanes of I-43 in Ozaukee County, at one point forcing another semi onto the shoulder, was charged last week with a felony in connection with the incident.

Katie C. Cooper, 50, of Martinez, Ga., faces one count of second-degree recklessly endangering safety in Ozaukee County Circuit Court.

According to a criminal complaint filed on Dec. 16, at 12:09 p.m. Sunday, April 6, an Ozaukee County sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to check on reports of a semi swerving across the southbound lanes of I-43 in the Belgium area. One motorist who called the Sheriff’s Office said the truck cut off another vehicle as it was swerving across both lanes and hitting the rumble strips on the shoulders of the freeway.

The deputy spotted the semi, caught up to it and saw it “grossly deviate” from its lane twice, forcing a semi in the right lane to swerve onto the shoulder, the complaint states.

The deputy activated his vehicle’s emergency lights and followed the semi as it continued south.

As the truck neared the Highway H exit in Port Washington, the deputy turned on his vehicle’s siren, but the semi continued south. Shortly after the deputy announced over his radio that he was in pursuit of the truck, it pulled over. 

The deputy made contact with Cooper, the driver, and instructed her to get out of the semi. Cooper was unsteady and appeared to be holding on to a part of the truck to steady herself, according to the complaint.

Cooper denied swerving and said she was driving from Green Bay to Illinois. 

While speaking with Cooper, the deputy noticed she smelled of alcohol, her eyes were glassy and she seemed to be talking slowly and slurring her words. Cooper initially denied drinking, but later said she had two beers and a whiskey at about 11 p.m. the night before, the complaint states.

Field sobriety tests indicated signs of impairment and a breath test showed she had an alcohol level of .15, according to the complaint.

She was issued citations for operating a commercial vehicle with alcohol in her system and first-offense drunken driving.

Cooper is scheduled to make her initial court appearance on the felony charge on Jan. 7 before Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Sandy Williams. 

Second-degree recklessly endangering safety is punishable by a maximum five years in prison and five years of extended supervision.