Drunk Wrong-Way Driver Leads Cops On Chase, Nearly Crashes Into Cars, Charter Bus: Police

NORTHAMPTON, NY — A drunk, wrong-way driver led cops on a high-speed chase early Saturday morning as she almost crashed head-on into numerous cars and a charter bus, police said.

Jennifer R. Paterno, 31, of Patchogue and Bloomfield, N.J., was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, second degree reckless endangerment, third degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer, and reckless driving, all misdemeanors, as well as numerous traffic infractions, police said.

Police said the six-and-a-half mile pursuit began at 12:41 a.m. when members of the Community Response Unit were heading north on County Road 51 near Old Moriches Road in Northampton when they saw, and were passed by, a vehicle traveling south in the northbound lanes at a high rate of speed.

The officers turned around and began to pursue the vehicle south on County Road 51, paralleling from the southbound lanes, police said.

Paterno failed to comply with the officers' attempt to stop, reaching speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour, police said.

Officers were able to see that the vehicle, a white Audi convertible, was occupied by Paterno, the lone occupant and driver, police said.

She nearly struck numerous northbound vehicles head-on, causing some motorists to leave the roadway to avoid a collision, police said.

At the intersection of County Road 51 and County Road 111, Paterno narrowly missed striking a full size charter bus, which was making a left turn from southbound to northbound County Road 111; police were unable to immediately determine if there were passengers on the bus, authorities said.

Paterno's vehicle continued south in the northbound lanes until reaching the Valero Gas Station near the intersection of County Road 51 and Eastport-Manor Road in Eastport, where she made a U-turn, traveling north, then turned onto Eastport-Manor Road, where she made another U-turn, returning to County Road 51 proceeding south, this time actually in the southbound lane, exiting onto the Sunrise Highway westbound ramp where she again accelerated to a high rate of speed while still being pursued by the police vehicle, police said.

At 12:47 a.m., and after approximately one mile on Sunrise Highway, and six-and-a-half miles overall, she pulled over to the side of the highway in East Moriches, police said.

After further investigation she was found to be intoxicated and taken into custody without further incident; she was held at Southampton police headquarters for a morning arraignment, police said.

"Thankfully there were no injuries resulting from this incident," police said.

Police are asking that any of the motorists on County Road 51 or other witnesses to the incident to contact the Community Response Unit at 631-702-2250.