Wrong-Way Driver Nabbed After Driving While Intoxicated On Shelter Island: Police

NORTH FORK, NY — A wrong-way driver was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated on Shelter Island Sunday morning, police said.

According to Shelter Island police, the incident took place at 7:54 a.m. on North Ferry Road.

John O'Connell, 31, of Boston, MA, was observed operating a motor vehicle on the wrong side of the median, on North Ferry Road (State Route 114), traveling southbound in the northbound lane, police said.

He further failed to keep right within the traffic circle at the intersection of North Ferry Road and School Street, police said.

A traffic stop led to a DWI investigation, where O'Connell exhibited multiple indicators consistent with intoxication, police said.

He was placed under arrest and charged with driving while intoxicated, first offense; aggravated DWI, operating a motor vehicle with .18% blood alcohol content or more; wrong way divider, and operating in wrong direction/lane, police said.

The legal BAC is 0.08 percent.

O'Connell was transported to Shelter Island Police Department headquarters for processing, and later released on a desk appearance ticket, directing him to appear before the Shelter Island Justice Court on a later date, police said.