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The incident took place in Litchfield County around 9:15 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 10 on Route 8 in the area of Exit 39 in the town of Thomaston.
Connecticut State Police responded to the area after receiving several 911 calls reporting the wrong-way driver.
Prior to the arrival of responding troopers, the driver of a vehicle traveling southbound was able to get the attention of the wrong-way driver and advised him to turn his vehicle around, police said,
According to the witness, the wrong-way vehicle proceeded to exit the highway at Exit 39 southbound and re-entered Route 8 via the northbound entrance ramp.
Responding troopers located the described vehicle traveling northbound near Exit 42 and stopped the vehicle.
Troopers identified the driver as Shawn Wiosna, age 47, of Torrington, and said that he was "exhibiting signs of possible impairment," police said.
During the on-scene investigation, Wiosna refused to exit the vehicle after being asked several times to do so voluntarily. Troopers then escorted Wiosna out of the vehicle and secured him in handcuffs. Wiosna was placed under arrest and transported to Troop L in Litchfield, where he agreed to participate in standardized field sobriety tests, which were not performed to standard, police said,
As a result of the investigation, Wiosna was processed and charged with the following:
- Interfering with an officer
- Operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs,
- Failure to drive in the proper lane.
- Driving the wrong way
Wiosna was later released on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
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