By Shereen Siewert
A wrong-way driver suspected of being high on methamphetamine and cocaine who led police on a seven-mile chase with speeds topping 106 mph was wanted in a prior fleeing case, according to court documents.
Amos Wodora, 23, is being held on a $25,000 cash bond. He faces charges of fleeing an officer resulting in bodily harm, operating under the influence/causing injury, second degree recklessly endangering safety, hit and run/causing injury and obstructing an officer. Court records show Wodora was released from prison, where he served about a year for an earlier charge of fleeing an officer, less than two months ago and was wanted on a nationwide warrant for another fleeing incident.
Police at 4:14 p.m. June 27 received a tip advising Wodora was at a Weston residence. While officers were en route, Wodora left the residence in a silver Chevrolet Equinox and the reporting person followed behind. A Rothschild officer, who received a warning that Wodora could be carrying a firearm, then followed the suspect into Rib Mountain where he turned into the Gullver’s Landing restaurant parking lot. As the officer waited for backup to arrive, Wodora suddenly began to travel south Rookery View Drive, a dead end road, before allegedly accelerating and traveling past where the road ends, driving over the sidewalk and curve before continuing southbound on Rib Mountain Drive at a high rate of speed. That, court records state, is when the chase began.
Police say Wodora wound through traffic in Rib Mountain at estimated speeds of between 60 mph and 70 mph before driving northbound in the southbound ramp of Hwy. 51, into oncoming traffic. Officers tried to stop Wodora using a pit maneuver but were unsuccessful and Wodora turned before heading southbound on Hwy. 51 at speeds of more than 106 mph, according to the criminal complaint.
Wodora ultimately exited the highway at Bus. Hwy. 51 in the village of Rothschild, traveling eastbound on Yawkey Avenue before allegedly crashing into a Cadillac at a high rate of speed. Wodora’s vehicle traveled about 250 feet past the crash before coming to rest in the south ditch facing north. Wodora then fled on foot but was arrested by officers a short time later.
Two people inside the Cadillac were injured. One person was transported to a local hospital for treatment of a concussion and other injuries, police said.
Wodora was transported to Ascension Saint Clare’s hospital for evaluation where he allegedly admitted being under the influence of methamphetamine and cocaine at the time of the incident.
Formal charges were filed against Wodora, of Hatley, on Monday. A preliminary hearing is set for July 10.
