Drunken Driver's Flight into Marsh Foiled by Raised Fire Ladder Bucket

An alleged drunken driver who fled into a marsh after causing an injury accident on Barker Road Thursday afternoon had little chance once fire crews lifted a ladder bucket.

A Brookfield police sergeant went up high in the bucket and directed officers to where the 18-year-old Brookfield man was hiding, Police Capt. Jim Adlam said Friday.

"The sergeant could see him crouching and moving," he said.

Officers arrested the teen but released him to his parents, referring the case to the Waukesha County District Attorney's office for possible charges of  operating while intoxicated, OWI causing injury, possession of drug paraphernalia (a pipe), hit and run, and obstructing an officer.

According to police reports:

Police were called at 3:25 p.m. Thursday about an accident on Barker Road at River Road near . A vehicle, driven by the 18-year-old, was southbound on Barker when it crossed the center line and hit a northbound vehicle, driven by a 54-year-old Sussex woman.

The woman was taken to an area hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening.

Teen threw half-case of beer into woods

Witnesses saw the teenager pull a half-case of beer from his vehicle and throw it in nearby woods before driving north on Barker in his damaged car. The car didn't make it far; he had to pull it over behind at Barker and Capitol, and then he ran across Barker Road, fleeing into the marsh.

set up a perimeter, used a public address system to call him to come out and would catch an occasional glimpse of him. The brought a ladder truck with bucket, and the Butler police canine unit was requested.

By the time the canine arrived, however, the police sergeant in the raised bucket had directed officers where to arrest him, which occurred without further incident.

Also responding were Town of Brookfield police and Waukesha County sheriff deputies contracted for the City of Pewaukee, Adlam said.

The man's blood-alcohol level was not yet known; authorities took a blood draw to determine it.

And the half-case of beer ditched in the woods? When officers recovered it, "it was still cool," Adlam said.