Officer Stops Drunk Wrong-Way Driver On Christmas Morning: NCPD

A Nassau County police officer stopped a drunk driver heading the wrong way on Sunrise Highway early yesterday morning, police say, preventing a possible Christmas morning tragedy.

According to police, a highway patrol officer was heading west on Sunrise Highway just before 3:30 a.m. in Seaford when he saw headlight in the westbound lane quickly coming toward him. The officer turned on all of his emergency lights and angled his car to block all three lanes to prevent a possible accident.

The wrong-way driver stopped, police say, and the officer began an investigation. Police say the driver, Santiago Atehortua Gaviria, 22, of 202nd Street, Oakland Gardens, had glassy and bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and an odor of alcohol on his breath.

Gaviria was arrested without incident. His car, a 1998 Honda Civic, was impounded. Gaviria is charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and several other vehicle and traffic law violations. He was arraigned on Dec. 25 in First District Court in Hempstead.

Photo courtesy Nassau County Police Department