“Very strange.” That’s how a law enforcement official describes an overnight incident with a semi-truck driver on the Interstate near Sparta. Monroe County Sheriff Dennis Pedersen said the driver for a Canadian trucking firm had picked up a load of energy drinks in Minnesota – then for some reason headed east into Wisconsin rather than north back to Canada. “We don’t know what caused him to drive as erratically as he was driving, and to refuse the directives of the officers,” said Pedersen. Pedersen said the driver did have to be subdued after leading officers on a 23 mile chase and then refusing to exit his cab for nearly an hour. He exhibited signs of being very fatigued, but Pedersen said it’s not known what other issues might have been in play.
Pedersen noted there was also a language barrier – the man speaks Punjabi but apparently no English, which may explain why the Dane County Bomb Squad had to be called after the man said there were explosives in the trailer. Although a bomb sniffing dog did get a positive hit, no explosives were found. The driver is being held on suspicion of felony fleeing and reckless endangerment.
Bob Hague (:65 Mp3) AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:65 MP3)