AfterTheClip

drunk-driving · I-43 near Milwaukee, Wisconsin

What happened after an accused drunk driver crashed into a Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputy's squad car?

What happened?

Court pending

Zachariah Counsell was charged with felony second-degree recklessly endangering safety and misdemeanor operating while intoxicated (second offense) after crashing into a Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputy's squad car on January 1, 2026. He pleaded not guilty and was released on a $7,500 cash bond with conditions including absolute sobriety.

3 sourcesBy AfterTheClip Desk · Last checked Jun 17, 2026

By AfterTheClip Research

No source yet.

Timeline

  1. At approximately 2:36 a.m., Zachariah Counsell, 23, crashed his Mercedes-Benz into a Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputy's squad car on I-43 near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  2. Zachariah Counsell pleaded not guilty to charges including felony second-degree recklessly endangering safety and misdemeanor operating while intoxicated (second offense).

  3. Counsell was scheduled to appear in court again following his not guilty plea.

  4. The clip titled 'When You're Too Drunk to Realize You Crashed into a Cop' was uploaded to YouTube by 'Code Blue Cam' (approximate date).

  5. Zachariah Counsell was released on a $7,500 cash bond, with conditions requiring absolute sobriety and monitoring by portable breathalyzers.

What people are asking

What is considered reckless driving in Milwaukee?

While the specific legal definition for Milwaukee is not detailed in the provided sources, Zachariah Counsell was charged with felony second-degree recklessly endangering safety, indicating a serious offense involving a disregard for safety that led to endangerment.

What charges did Zachariah Counsell face after the crash?

Zachariah Counsell was charged with felony second-degree recklessly endangering safety, misdemeanor operating while intoxicated (second offense), and received over $800 in traffic citations.

Were there any injuries to the deputies involved?

According to a criminal complaint, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputy whose squad car was hit was 'thankfully okay'.

Receipts

How we researched this & corrections

Information was gathered from YouTube video descriptions and titles, as well as follow-up reports detailing court proceedings and charges. Details were cross-referenced for accuracy.

Corrections: corrections@aftertheclip.com.