Impaired Freeport Man Drove Over Harley Rider: Sheriff Report

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI — An Freeport man who was impaired behind the wheel was responsible for a crash that resulted in a motorcycle rider getting trapped under his car on the Fourth of July, said authorities in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Just before 11 p.m. on the Fourth of July, a Milwaukee County Sheriff deputy said she saw a Cadillac with severe damage and airbag deployment stopped in lanes of traffic on I-43 near Locust Ave. in Milwaukee County. She reported seeing a man lying face down with his legs pinned underneath the right rear passenger tire. A Harley-Davidson motorcycle with rear damage was on its side a short distance ahead of the Cadillac. Citizens were trying to render aid to the 56-year-old man trapped under the car.

Authorities said that all lanes of traffic were closed, and Milwaukee Fire Department personnel were able to free the victim and convey him to the hospital. Due to the severity of his injures, detectives took crash scene reconstruction measurements.

Sheriff's officials say the driver of the Cadillac, Cornelius Mcshane, age 66, of Freeport, refused to say how the crash occurred. A witness driving up to the scene saw the Cadillac reverse over the motorcyclist who was lying in the road. Another witness indicated the Cadillac was travelling at a high rate of speed.

Deputies reported that Mcshane performed poorly on field sobriety tests, and admitted to drinking two beers, and taking Oxycodone. During an inventory of the vehicle, deputies located prescription narcotic pills. He registered a .13 blood alcohol concentration on a preliminary breath test.

Sheriff Richard Schmidt said in a prepared statement: "Opioids, alcohol and speed all combined for a catastrophic outcome. Substance abuse has life-threatening consequences! Victims of this behavior are humans. It's time to restore the value of life."

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's office said they will be seeking charges against Mcshane of OWI-Causing Great Bodily Harm and 2nd Degree Recklessly Causing Injury, felonies with a combined penalty of 25 years in prison.

Milwaukee County Sheriff Photo