Lonnie Burke, Aldriana Givens Obituary, Death – A tragic wrong-way crash occurred early Saturday morning on Interstate 43 in Milwaukee, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuring others. The crash took place near National Avenue on the High Rise Bridge and involved a head-on collision between a white Chevrolet sedan and an SUV.
The driver of the wrong-way vehicle was identified as 29-year-old Lonnie Burke of Milwaukee. His cousin, 29-year-old Aldriana Givens, and his sister, 31-year-old Tanisha Warren, were also in the car. Burke and Givens died at the scene, while Warren succumbed to her injuries shortly after being transported to the hospital. The driver of the SUV and a baby passenger sustained only minor injuries.
Witnesses described the chaotic scene as the wrong-way vehicle sped into oncoming traffic. Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputies were alerted to the crash through reports over the police scanner. James Kumrow-Morgan, a bystander who tried to avoid the collision, was struck by another vehicle in the aftermath. “It was very quick. I saw headlights and thought, ‘This is not going to be good,'” Kumrow-Morgan recalled.
Kumrow-Morgan suffered injuries to his back and arm and lamented the extensive damage to his family’s only car. “Besides the accident and the loss of life, this could be financially devastating for someone who just happened to be caught up in the mix,” he said. He also questioned why more preventative measures aren’t in place to stop wrong-way drivers. “It’s too bad that these things have to happen when the technology is there to possibly prevent them,” he added.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash, and it is unclear whether Burke was intoxicated at the time. However, preliminary findings raise concerns. According to a medical examiner’s report, an open bottle of tequila and marijuana were found in Burke’s vehicle. Additionally, marijuana and a substance suspected to be cocaine were discovered in his pockets.
The crash has left a deep impact on the Milwaukee community, highlighting concerns about freeway safety and the persistent dangers of impaired driving. Local officials are expected to review the incident to determine if any new measures can be implemented to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As Kumrow-Morgan recovers from his injuries and assesses the financial toll of the accident, he remains hopeful that improvements will be made to freeway infrastructure to avoid further loss of life. Meanwhile, the families of the deceased are mourning the loss of their loved ones in what has become one of Milwaukee’s most devastating traffic accidents this year.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident or additional eyewitness accounts to come forward as the investigation continues.
