WAUKESHA — A Sullivan woman who drove the wrong way on Highway 16 last year pleaded guilty to two felony charges against her on Monday.
Melissa Bright, 48, pleaded guilty to counts of homicide by the intoxicated use of a vehicle and first-degree recklessly endangering safety in a plea agreement that saw counts of homicide by the use of a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration, homicide by the use of a vehicle with the presence of a controlled substance in her blood, and six more counts of endangering safety dismissed. According to the plea agreement, in exchange for those pleas, the state will recommend she serve 12 years in prison, 10 more on supervision, with restitution and a driver’s license suspension when Bright is sentenced June 21.
Bright was charged after the Feb. 18, 2023, crash that killed Brooklyn Gridley, 19, who was living in Dousman.
A criminal complaint said a witness reported she was nearly struck from behind by a car later found to be driven by Bright at highways KE and 83. The witness turned onto southbound Highway 83, with Bright’s car following to Golf Road. Several minutes later, at about 2:30 p.m. Feb. 18, the crash was reported on eastbound Highway 16 just east of Highway C, with several motorists reporting Bright was driving in the wrong direction and made no attempt to swerve out of their way, the complaint said.
Rescuers removed Gridley from her car and flew her to Aurora Hospital in Summit, where she died early Feb. 20. A can of a margarita drink was found on the floor of Bright’s car, the complaint said. One responder said she smelled a sweet odor on Bright’s breath and Bright showed behavior consistent with alcohol intoxication or shock, the complaint said. Another responder said he smelled both alcohol and marijuana about Bright as she was in an ambulance.
Bright also suffered multiple rib fractures, a fractured femur and fractures to the lower bones of her legs, the complaint said. Tests of her blood taken that day showed two different results; a sample taken upon admission had a blood alcohol level of .204, while another sample tested by the state crime laboratory showed a result of 0.182, more than twice the state’s legal limit for drivers. Also found in her system was evidence of the use of marijuana, benzodiazepenes and barbiturates, the complaint against her said.