TORRINGTON, Conn. — A Waterbury man is facing DUI and wrong-way driving charges, and Connecticut State Police are thanking the drivers on Route 8 for reporting the driver to 911 before a potential crash.
State police were called to Route 8 North near Exit 43 in Torrington around 1:30 a.m. Friday. Multiple 911 calls reported the wrong-way driver. One of the callers told the dispatcher that the wrong-way vehicle turned around and started going the correct way but was still driving erratically and swerving through lanes.
The caller added that the vehicle exited Route 8 North at Exit 44 and got onto East Main Street before going onto Route 8 South.
Troopers stopped the vehicle around Exit 41 and found the driver, Michael Wiggins, 67, showing signs of impairment. After a sobriety test that Wiggins did not perform to standard, he was taken into state police custody, troopers said.
Wiggins was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence, failing to drive in the proper lane, and driving the wrong way. He was later released on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 2.
State police thank the 911 callers who reported the incident and encourage those who see a wrong-way driver to call 911 while keeping a safe distance away.
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