Man, 28, Charged With Driving Drunk The Wrong Way In Farmington: CSP

FARMINGTON, CT — A 28-year-old Massachusetts man will appear in court later this month after state police said he was driving drunk the wrong way on Interstate 84 in Farmington Saturday.

According to Connecticut State Police, Alex Caiza-Apugllon, 28, of Chicopee, Mass., was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol/drugs; driving without a license; reckless driving; driving the wrong way on a limited access highway; illegal entry onto a limited access highway; unsafe backing; and second-degree reckless endangerment.

Police said Caiza-Apugllon was released on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Hartford Superior Court on March 28.

According to state police, at about 4:56 a.m. Saturday, Troop H - Hartford received an alert from a wrong-way detection system on the Fienemann Road (Exit 37) on-ramp to I-84 West in Farmington.

With help from the state Department of Transportation, Troop H observed the vehicle to be a red Hyundai Elantra driving west onto the eastbound side of I-84, police said.

Troopers responded but were initially unable to locate the vehicle that was observed on camera, according to police.

Police said, at about 5:02 a.m., Troopers located a vehicle matching the description backing down the Interstate 84 Exit 39A connector to Route 9 southbound.

Based on the violation observed and the vehicle matching that of the wrong-way driver, a traffic stop was conducted, police said.

Upon speaking with the operator, he was identified as Caiza-Apugllon.

Police said Caiza-Apugllon exhibited signs of intoxication on scene and he said he was aware he drove the wrong way as he was looking at the map on his phone.

Caiza-Apugllon said he was driving back to Springfield, Mass., and denied drinking any alcoholic beverages, police said.

Caiza-Apugllon also said he did not have a license to operate a motor vehicle, according to police.

Based on the trooper's suspicion, Caiza-Apugllon was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, he was given a field sobriety test, which he failed.

As a result, Caiza-Apugllon was taken into custody without incident.

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