Walker officers locate wrong-way I-96 driver in under two minutes

Walker police stopped a driver traveling the wrong way on I-96 on June 17, just two days before two wrong-way crashes on Juneteenth killed five people across West Michigan.

The incident happened just after 1 a.m. Wednesday near Alpine Avenue. The driver was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-96.

"About 1:17 am, we received a broadcast about a wrong-way driver," Officer Degroot said, speaking days later in the garage at the Walker Police Department.

Officers Degroot and Peddie responded to the reports. According to the City of Walker Police Department, the officers located the vehicle and stopped it within two minutes.

The driver was arrested for operating while intoxicated, the department said.

Dashcam video shows the stop

The Walker Police Department released dashcam footage of the stop on June 24. The video shows officers responding to I-96 and locating the wrong-way vehicle before any collision occurred.

"Last week, Walker Officers DeGroot and Peddie responded to reports of a wrong-way driver on I-96," the City of Walker Police Department wrote on Facebook. "Within two minutes, they were able to locate the vehicle and get it stopped."

The department added a public safety message with the post.

"PLEASE, if you drink, don't drive. Find a sober driver, call a ride share, use a cab."

A narrow escape before a deadly weekend

The Walker stop took place on June 17. On June 19, Juneteenth, two separate wrong-way crashes on West Michigan freeways left five people dead.

One crash involved a Muskegon couple, Tammy and Robert Robinson, who were struck by a 24-year-old wrong-way driver. The Kent County Sheriff's Office said alcohol was a factor in that crash.

The Walker incident shows how quickly a wrong-way situation can escalate. In this case, officers intervened before anyone was hurt.

Wrong-way driving remains a persistent problem

Officer Degroot described wrong-way driving as an ongoing concern for local law enforcement.

"It is an issue all the time," Degroot said.

The Walker Police Department has shared the dashcam video to highlight the danger of impaired driving and to show how quickly officers can respond when the threat is reported early.