MONTVILLE, Conn. — Connecticut State Police provided an update Friday regarding a wrong-way driver who traveled through multiple New London County towns early on the morning of Nov. 11.
State police say that 36-year-old David Valcin, of Mattapan, Mass., was arrested and charged with reckless driving, driving the wrong way on a divided highway and illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/drugs.
Valcin was unable to post the $2,500 cash/surety bond he was assigned and was scheduled to be arraigned Friday in New London Superior Court.
According to state police, at around 1:13 a.m. on Nov. 11, Troop E in Montville received numerous calls about a wrong-way driver traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 395 near Exit 11 in Norwich. Multiple troopers responded to the area immediately.
A trooper observed a silver Ford Focus with a New Hampshire license plate around Exit 6 in Montville heading straight in their direction. State police say the trooper activated their lights and siren and attempted to stop the Ford, but it swerved by and continued traveling dangerously fast in the wrong direction.
After the trooper informed other responding units of the Ford’s location, another trooper stationed near Exit 2 in Waterford witnessed the wrong-way Ford. According to state police, it weaved across multiple lanes to avoid the cruiser, but the trooper was able to block its path and bring it to a stop without further incident.
The trooper reportedly observed a male and female in the Ford. When the Ford stopped, the trooper exited the cruiser, but the Ford began reversing. The trooper demanded that the driver stop, and he did.
State police say that when the trooper ordered the driver to shift the vehicle into park and remove the keys from the ignition, the driver struggled to do so, so the passenger removed the keys and handed them to the trooper.
State police identified the driver as Valcin.
Valcin allegedly said he was unfamiliar with the area. State police say the passenger said she repeatedly warned Valcin he was driving the wrong way, but he ignored her. While speaking to Valcin, the trooper noticed signs of impairment and requested he perform the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.
According to state police, Valcin agreed to participate but was unable to complete the tests to standard. He was arrested, taken to Troope E and charged.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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