The driver stopped in the distress lane on I-894, near the South 84th Street on-ramp wasn't waiting for assistance, says the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office: He was shooting heroin.
Video showed the pickup truck stopped in the distress lane, then slowly crossing three lanes of traffic, rolling down an embankment, knocking over a freeway sign and crashing into the on-ramp wall.
When Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies arrived they found Jacob Middleton, 27, of East Troy, unconscious in the truck, along with 18 bindles of heroin and all he needed to get high. Greenfield rescue personnel arrived on scene, and the Sheriff's Office reported Middleton was combative as they stabilized him.
Greenfield rescue took Middleton to Froedtert hospital, where he was treated for fractures to his face and a cut above his eye. Deputies found drug paraphernalia—including a tourniquet, bent spoon and a needle—in the vehicle, along with the 18 bindles of heroin in the ashtray.
From WISN 12 News: Video of the driver
The preliminary investigation indicates Middleton stopped in the distress lane, put on the tourniquet, cooked heroin in the spoon and injected it before losing control of the vehicle.
Middleton is being charged with driving under the influence of drugs, recklessly endangering safety and possession of heroin. If convicted, he could face more than 10 years in prison, plus time on extended supervision.
