Wrong-Way Driver Charged After Crash In East Hartford: Police

EAST HARTFORD, CT — A 69-year-old East Hartford man was charged and is accused of drunk driving on Sunday after crashing into a state police cruiser while going the wrong way on a local highway, police said.

According to Connecticut state police, Robert John Washam, 69, of Landers Road, East Hartford was charged with reckless driving; disobeying the signal of an officer; illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs; failure to drive in the proper lane; driving the wrong way on a divided highway; illegal entry onto a limited access highway; interfering with a police officer/resisting arrest; and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Police said he was being held on $75,000 bond and was expected to appear in Hartford Superior Court on Monday, March 11.

According to police, officers responded to a call at about 3:49 a.m. Sunday reporting a wrong-way driver traveling west in the eastbound lane of Route 2 in East Hartford.

Police said officers were then notified the suspect entered the Route 5/15 highway and was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes.

According to police, the vehicle being driven by Washam was traveling the wrong way in the right shoulder.

While police tried to stop Washam's vehicle, the suspect crashed into a state police cruiser, according to police.

Police said Washam "was uncooperative with troopers on scene and exhibited signs of intoxication."

Washam was, eventually, taken into custody without incident, police said, and was taken to the state police Troop H barracks in Hartford, where he failed field sobriety tests.

For the Connecticut State Police news page, click on this link.