The tragedy unfolded on a Milwaukee freeway around 4:30 a.m. last Sunday when a wrong-way driver caused a severe crash that injured a pregnant woman and claimed the life of her unborn child. Jorge Alvarez Mathuzima, the driver responsible for the incident on Interstate 43, now faces a slew of charges including first-degree reckless homicide of an unborn child and intoxicated use of a vehicle. His blood alcohol content was recorded at 0.1569, nearly twice the legal limit in Wisconsin, according to FOX 6 Now.
The crash was catastrophic and led to the victim's vehicle catching fire. Multiple sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene to rescue the woman, who sustained critical injuries including a fractured rib, broken hip and nose, as well as a severe laceration. "The MCSO offers condolences to the victim and commends the deputy sheriffs who, in the presence of grave and unknown dangers – a burning vehicle, and an impaired driver – put themselves in harm’s way," Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball stated, as reported by FOX 6 News. "Absent their quick thinking and decisive actions, the outcome of this tragic crash could have been even worse."
In a harrowing close call, body camera footage obtained by WISN 12 News displays the aftermath of the violent crash. The footage captures the urgent efforts of deputies to extract a 33-year-old woman from the flaming wreckage. "Watching the video, it was very intense video to take in as a supervisor. There was fire. There was screaming. There were individuals in need of help," Milwaukee County Sheriff's Capt. Charles Stowers told WISN 12 News in a statement obtained by the outlet.
Alvarez Mathuzima, who is being held on a $100,000 bond, is due in court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 5. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office has responded to over 200 wrong-way driver incidents on the freeway system this year alone, emphasizing a persistent danger plaguing the roads. "Don't drink and drive. It’s as simple as that," Capt. Stowers said, according to WISN 12 News. This tragedy once again highlights the devastating impact of driving under influence and the heroic efforts of law enforcement officers in the face of critical emergencies, as noted by the Journal Sentinel.
