Local police hope Wisconsin can retest erratic driver

Lake County authorities are looking into whether they can seek driver's license retesting for a Wisconsin man accused of causing a series of crashes over a half-mile stretch of road last week.

William Michaelson, 87, of Delavan, Wis., caused the first collision when his 2004 Subaru Outback hit a Chevrolet Cavalier at Route 45 and Rollins Road about 11 a.m. April 10, according to the Lake County sheriff's office. The Cavalier bounced into another vehicle.

Michaelson continued north on Route 45 and rammed a Buick Regal stopped at Route 132, which triggered a chain reaction that involved a Mercury Mountaineer and a Toyota Corolla, said police. Michaelson then drove through a red light and was hit by a Jeep headed east on Route 132.

Sheriff's Lt. John Jansky said Monday that authorities are trying to learn if they can get the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles to force Michaelson to be retested for his driver's license. He said local police would be able to do so if Michaelson were an Illinois resident.

Jansky said sheriff's police were working with the Illinois Secretary of State's office on the matter.

Michaelson was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to render aid and information in an accident, disobeying a traffic control device and not wearing a seat belt.

Two of the drivers were taken to local hospitals with injuries.

Jansky said Michaelson didn't have any recollection of the crashes. Authorities didn't have information about Michaelson's injuries.