Troopers in New Haven County received 911 calls about a vehicle traveling south in the northbound lanes on the Merritt Parkway (Route 15) near Exit 55 in Milford at about 2 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, Connecticut State Police reported.
Shortly after the initial calls, police received a report of a crash on Route 15 near the Milford/Orange line involving a northbound vehicle that had reportedly swerved and struck a guardrail to avoid a crash with the wrong-way vehicle, authorities said.
The driver who crashed into the guardrail did not report any injuries, police said.
Police said the wrong-way vehicle, a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe, continued traveling south until troopers stopped the vehicle near Sikorsky Bridge in Stratford.
The driver, identified as Carlos Ferreira, of the Town of Fairfield, had a suspended license and was the subject of an active Paperless Re-Arrest Warrant, authorities said.
State Police said he was given standardized field sobriety tests, which he did not perform to standard, and was found in possession of a substance believed to be narcotics.
Authorities said Ferreira was arrested and charged with:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Driving wrong way on a divided highway
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension
- Reckless driving
- Operating without a license
- Possession of control substance
The PRAWN warrant was also served, charging him with second-degree failure to appear, State Police said.
He is set to appear in court on Thursday, Sept. 1, authorities said.
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