MILWAUKEE — A man who drove drunk and crashed into a Milwaukee Utility Worker is now in prison.
Notably not in the courtroom Thursday for the sentencing was 36-year-old Dan Franecki, who almost died and had to have both legs amputated. Franecki says he wants to focus on moving forward, not the crash that changed his life, or person responsible for it.
The crash happened almost one year ago, on Feb. 20, 2020, just before 11 p.m.
Franecki was just finishing work on utility lines near 6th and State in downtown Milwaukee. Orange cones and a sign blocked off the area.
Even so, the car Antonio Owens was driving came barreling into Franecki and pinned him.
Court documents show Owens’ blood alcohol concentration was more than twice the legal limit. And Owens wasn’t supposed to be driving. He had been arrested for his first OWI, causing an accident, just six months earlier.
Investigators say they found an open bottle of vodka, three unopened cans of beer and marijuana in Owens’ car when he struck Franecki.
On Thursday, the judge sentenced Owens to six years in prison, three years of extended supervision, and his license will be revoked for two years upon his release.
Owens, who is a father of four, did express remorse in court.
