City Times Staff

STEVENS POINT — The suspect involved in Friday night’s multi-vehicle crash, who fled the scene shortly after, faces a slew of charges.

On Friday, Nov. 16, at approximately 6:07 p.m., the Portage County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a one vehicle roll-over crash on I-39 near County Highway HH. Authorities discovered that the vehicle had lost control, crossed into the median and overturned. The vehicle came to a rest on its roof in the northbound lanes of traffic.

The lone driver of the vehicle, now identified as 37-year-old Joshua Cisewski, of Stockton, fled the scene.

As a result of the incident, a seven-vehicle chain reaction crash occurred in the southbound lanes of I-39, as motorists failed to slow and react in time of the initial crash. There were several injuries resulting from the series of crashes, including one whom was flown to Aspirus Hospital in Wausau with non-life threatening injuries.

In Cisewski’s vehicle, deputies would discover several empty vodka bottles, and a witnesses reported that the driver appeared intoxicated as he ran from the scene. Law enforcement began their search, even using the services of a canine to track him down. At approximately 9:15 p.m, an AIG security guard reported a male hiding on the business property. He appeared to be intoxicated and injured.

This is Cisewksi’s third offense of Operating While Intoxicated, and will be charged accordingly. Additionally, he faces charges of OWI causing injury, operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent. and bail jumping. Cisewski had four outstanding warrants at the time, including other criminal and traffic charges. He is currently being held on a $20,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Plover and Stevens Point Police Departments, Wisconsin State Patrol, Portage County Ambulance, and several area fire and EMS departments.

The Sheriff’s Office urges motorists to keep their attention on the roadway ahead of them when passing through an emergency scene, expect other motorists to react unexpectedly, and always
wear your safety belt.

The investigation continues into this incident.