Police Stop Intoxicated, Wrong-Way Driver On Sprain Parkway: WCPD

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — A dangerous situation was brought to a safe conclusion thanks to the quick actions of Westchester County police and New York state troopers.

The Westchester County Police Department's Patrol Services Division said a potential tragedy was avoided on the Sprain Brook Parkway early Monday morning. A WCPD officer was able to intercept a wrong-way driver who was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes.

Shortly after 4 a.m., New York State Police officers responded to a report that a wrong-way driver was traveling on the Sprain Brook Parkway near Jackson Ave.

A WCPD officer who was driving north on the Sprain from the Bronx River Parkway then spotted the wrong-way driver coming towards him near Tuckahoe Rd. The officer turned on his lights and siren, and was able to force the wrong-way vehicle onto the shoulder and come to a stop.

The driver, a 42-year-old man, had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and was unsteady on his feet when asked to step out of his vehicle, according to police. After a field sobriety test, the driver was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated.

"Over the years, Westchester has sadly seen a number of enormous tragedies caused by intoxicated, wrong-way drivers," the WCPD said in a statement. "We are grateful our officer was able to intercept this vehicle before it encountered oncoming traffic."