Wrong Way: Officer Nabs Drunk Driver On Smithtown Roadway After Award From MADD, Police Say

A Long Island police officer is being credited with busting a drunk, wrong-way driver on a roadway while heading home from receiving an award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), authorities said.

A 66-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly driving the wrong way on Route 347 near Mount Pleasant Road in Smithtown while impaired by drugs and alcohol on Tuesday, May 2.
Photo Credit: *Google Maps street view/Canva user Canetti*

Michael Mashburn

05/03/2023 1:30 p.m.

The incident happened at around 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, on Route 347 in Smithtown, according to police.

Suffolk County Police officer Eric Noens was off-duty in a marked police vehicle when he reportedly spotted 66-year-old Marisa Soares driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of Route 347 near Mount Pleasant Road.

Soares, of East Northport, was arrested on suspicion of driving while ability impaired by drugs and alcohol.

She was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Wednesday, May 3.

At the time of the incident, Noens - a member of the department’s Selective Alcohol Fatality Enforcement Section - was on his way home after receiving a unit recognition award for impaired driving enforcement from MADD.

The non-profit organization aims to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, and prevent underage drinking, according to its website.

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