Drunk driver barely misses highway 41 constructions workers; incident caught on tape
By: Caroline Rowland
Updated: April 16, 2012
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)-- A close call for some construction workers after a drunk driver nearly hits them on highway 41 in an incident police say could have killed five people.
Navigating highway 41 construction at anytime of the day can be tricky, when it's night and you're dealing with lane closures, even worse.
If you choose to drive drunk, you may find yourself in a similar situation as a local woman did last Monday night.
Video captured by a crew from the 41-project shows a woman was driving North on 41 near Green Bay, as she approaches the Mason street exit (which is closed and under construction) her truck "somehow" wedged its way through barriers and into a construction zone, where she almost hit four workers and came within feet of a massive crane.
"It could have been very tragic and again it just emphasizes how dangerous driving well intoxicated is," said Lt. Andy Lewis from the Green Bay Police Department.
This particular construction zone is well marked and police say to get into a closed off construction zone it was clear how impaired this particular driver was.
"When someone gets behind the wheel after drinking, isn't thinking about all of those things," said Lt. Lewis, "this could a been very tragic incident."
Often times when the Highway 41 project has to close lanes to do work, it happens at night, when it's more likely that a drunk driver could be on the road.
"anytime we have to close lanes it happens at night, people are out having a good time, you always have to be aware," said Craig Tredway, the project manager for the Highway 41 project, "things can happen quick, and you certainly don't want anybody hurt out there."
Tredway urges drivers to pay attention to the signing, watch the direction your given, obey the speed and drive with caution.
"We have 100's of workers out on this project, and they have families and they have lives outside of this and we certainly want to make sure those individuals get home safe at the end of their shift," said Tredway.
Green Bay police responded to the scene and took the driver into custody, OWI and reckless driving charges are pending.
