Wrong-Way Driver In Hartford Apprehended In Manchester: State Police

HARTFORD/MANCHESTER, CT — State police have charged a Springfield, Mass., woman with drunk driving after being seen driving the wrong way on multiple highways in Hartford early Friday morning.

Connecticut State Police said Nyasia Battle, 24, of Springfield, Mass., has been charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs; reckless driving; and driving the wrong way on a limited access highway at 2:17 a.m. Friday.

After being taken into custody in nearby Manchester, Battle was released on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court on March 17.

According to state police, state police at Troop H in Hartford started hearing reports via 911 calls early Friday morning of a red Hyundai SUV driving the wrong way on Route 5/15 and then onto Interstate 84 in the City of Hartford.

Police said callers reported the vehicle was first driving north in the southbound lanes of Route 5/15, then east in the westbound lanes of I-84.

Multiple troopers responded to the area, however, the vehicle appeared to have exited the highway, or self-corrected and was driving the correct way, police said.

According to state police, as troopers canvassed the area of Interstate 384 in Manchester, a vehicle matching the description given was observed driving at an "extremely low rate of speed in the right shoulder, before coming to a stop in the area of Exit 4."

Troopers made contact with the operator, who was identified as Battle.

Police said she claimed she was not from Connecticut and was following the GPS on her phone, police said.

According to police, Battle said she was coming from Hartford and going to a residence in Hartford.

Battle continued to explain the roadways in Connecticut are confusing and have many potholes, police said.

State police reported Battle had slurred speech and had a strong odor associated with alcohol.

Troopers also observed the front passenger side tire was flat, along with a large amount of mud on the side of the vehicle, indicating it went off the roadway at some point, police said.

Police were able to confirm her vehicle was the vehicle that had been driving the wrong way on multiple other highways prior to stopping on I-384.

Based on troopers' suspicion that Battle was under the influence, she was requested to perform field sobriety tests, which she failed, police said.

Battle was arrested without incident and transported to Troop H for processing.

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