Wrong-way highway drivers face felony charges

Two women have been charged with driving the wrong way on highways in Ozaukee County while drunk in separate incidents on the same day last month.

Jina P. Van Ess, 45, of Port Washington, and Kelly J. Teunissen, 50, of Cedar Grove, each face one felony count of second-degree recklessly endangering safety in Ozaukee County Circuit Court in connection with the Saturday, June 12, incidents. 

Each of them were also ticketed for first-offense drunken driving.

Teunissen, who pleaded not guilty during a hearing last week, was arrested after several witnesses called 911 at 10:20 p.m. to report that a motorist later identified as Teunissen was driving north in the southbound lanes of Highway 57 in the Town of Fredonia, according to the criminal complaint. 

One witness told authorities she had to swerve to avoid Teunissen’s vehicle as it came toward her.

Another witness was driving north and said he saw Teunissen nearly hit two motorcyclists, one of which had to take evasive action to avoid a collision with Teunissen’s vehicle just north of Highway H, the complaint states.

That witness said he was able to get in front of Teunissen’s vehicle at a turn lane and force her to stop. The man then walked over to Teunissen and told her turn off her vehicle, but as he was walking back to his car she pulled away and headed east on Highway D, according to the complaint.

The man recorded Teunissen’s license plate number and relayed it to authorities while he followed her, but he was unable to keep up with her as she sped away “as if he were standing still,” the complaint states.

A short time later, Saukville police officer Tanner Woepse found Teunissen and her vehicle in a Town of Belgium driveway. Also there was Teunissen’s husband, who said his wife called him and said she “had too many cocktails” and didn’t think it was safe for her to continue driving, according to the complaint.

Teunissen performed poorly on field sobriety tests and, according to a preliminary breath test, had a blood alcohol level of 0.196, the complaint states.

Also on June 12, several motorists called 911 at 1:14 a.m. to report that a car authorities later learned was being driven by Van Ess was heading north in the southbound lanes of I-43 in the Town of Saukville. 

Ozaukee County sheriff’s deputy Zachary Nelson was driving south when Van Ess passed him heading north. Nelson, who already had activated his emergency lights and siren, turned around and followed Van Ess, who continued to drive north slowly until she pulled over in the median, according to the criminal complaint filed in that case.

Van Ess, who had bloodshot and glassy eyes, told Nelson she was driving to Port Washington after hanging out with friends. She initially said she had just a few drinks, then said she had three and eventually told the deputy she drank two beers and two vodka cocktails, the complaint states.

She performed poorly on field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of 0.173, according to a preliminary breath test.

One of several witnesses told authorities he was driving north on I-43 when he saw Van Ess pass several southbound cars as she drove north in the southbound lanes. He said it was fortunate she didn’t collide with those vehicles because a crash could have been “catastrophic,” according to the complaint.

Van Ess has pleaded not guilty.

Second-degree recklessly endangering safety is punishable by a maximum five years in prison and five years of extended supervision.