Suspected drunk driver ‘almost hit’ Kamala Harris’ motorcade

A suspected drunk driver “nearly hit” Vice President Kamala Harris’ motorcade after driving the wrong way on a highway in Milwaukee on Monday.

When police stopped the suspect’s vehicle, officers found an open beer can in his vehicle, according to the arrest report obtained by a local radio station.

After a field sobriety test, the unnamed 55-year-old driver was taken into custody for driving under the influence.

Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, was in Wisconsin for a campaign event alongside former Republican lawmaker Liz Cheney in the town of Brookfield.

According to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred shortly before 8:30 p.m. local time (01:30 GMT) when officers saw a man in an SUV traveling westbound on the eastbound lane of Interstate 94.

The driver was arrested as he approached the vice president’s motorcade.

According to an arrest report obtained by local news station WISN, when the man was informed by a deputy that he had “almost hit a vehicle in the VPOTUS motorcade, he was extremely surprised and had no no memory of entering the highway.”

“He also said he had no intention of harming Vice President Kamala Harris or anyone connected to her campaign.”

According to the report, the man failed several field sobriety tests.

No injuries were reported during the incident.

In a statement, a U.S. Secret Service spokesperson said the agency was “aware of the incident involving a motorist traveling in the opposite direction on the highway while the Vice President was in her motorcade.” .

“We are grateful to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office for their response which allowed them to arrest the motorist and take the driver into custody for driving while intoxicated,” the statement added.

The BBC has contacted the Harris campaign for comment.

In September, vans traveling with Harris’ running mate Tim Walz were involved in a crash in the Milwaukee area.

The cars involved were at the rear of the motorcade and carried members of the press traveling with Mr. Walz.

The journalists said they were “violently thrown forward” after being hit from behind, sending their vehicle into the car in front. At least one person was injured.

The incident comes as the Secret Service grapples with what Acting Director Ronald Rowe described as a “heightened threat environment” ahead of the Nov. 5 election.