Man Drove Wrong Way On I-395 In New London County: State Police

NEW LONDON COUNTY, CT — A man drove the wrong way on I-395 and was blocked in by state police before he was arrested, according to state police.

State Police Troop E in Montville began receiving 911 calls at 1:13 a.m. on Nov. 11 reporting a wrong-way driver traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of I-395 near exit 11 in Norwich.

Police responded and found the vehicle, a silver Ford Focus with New Hampshire plates, near exit 6 in Montville driving directly at them.

Troopers attempted to stop the car but it swerved around them and kept speeding the wrong way, police said.

Another trooper near exit 2 in Waterford spotted the car swerving across multiple lanes and trying to evade the cruiser. However, the trooper blocked the car's path and brought it to a stop in the left lane.

The trooper got out of his cruiser and the car began to reverse. But the trooper commanded the driver to stop and he complied.

A passenger in the car told state police she had repeatedly warned the driver, David Valcin, 36, of Mattapan, Massachusetts, that he was driving the wrong way but he continued on. Valcin told police he was relying on GPS as he was from Massachusetts and didn't know the area.

State police gave Valcin field sobriety tests, which they said he failed.

He was charged with reckless driving, illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/drugs, and driving the wrong way on a divided highway.

Valcin was unable to post $2,500 bond. He was scheduled for arraignment at New London Superior Court on Nov. 29.