Authorities in Ozaukee County are investigating a devastating wrong-way crash that occurred early Monday morning on Interstate 43, killing two people and seriously injuring a third. The driver believed responsible for the collision has been identified as a 34-year-old Milwaukee man, who was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes at the time of the accident.
According to the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred around 12:44 a.m. near County Highway H in the Town of Port Washington. Officials say the man was behind the wheel of a 2025 Lexus heading the wrong direction when he collided head-on with a 2017 Ford Escape occupied by three people from Oostburg.
Tragically, the crash claimed the lives of a 56-year-old man and a 51-year-old woman, both residents of Oostburg, who were in the front seats of the Ford Escape. A 22-year-old woman, identified as Allisa Horne, who was seated in the rear of the vehicle, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Froedtert Hospital for emergency treatment.
The wrong-way driver had to be extricated from his vehicle by emergency crews. He was initially taken to Aurora Medical Center in Grafton and later airlifted to Froedtert Hospital, where he remains in critical condition, according to officials.
At this time, authorities have not publicly released the names of the deceased victims, but family members have identified them as Jay Horne and Nicole Horne, a married couple from Oostburg known for their strong ties to the local community.
The crash forced the closure of northbound I-43 at County Highway H for approximately five hours as investigators worked to reconstruct the scene and determine the cause of the accident.
Authorities say it is still unclear whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the collision. The investigation remains ongoing.
