EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — A Waterbury man is facing DUI and vehicle violation charges after driving the wrong way on an Interstate 84 off-ramp in East Hartford, causing a head-on crash Wednesday night.
State police were called to the Exit 56 off-ramp of I-84 East in East Hartford just after 9 p.m. Officials said that the wrong-way detection system at the off-ramp was activated just one minute before the crash.
Arriving troopers found three vehicles involved. The wrong-way vehicle had crashed head-on into another vehicle that was taking the exit, and a third vehicle was sideswiped while on the exit.
The driver of the vehicle that was hit head-on was taken to an area hospital for minor injuries, while the driver of the sideswiped vehicle did not report any injuries, state police said.
State police had to find the wrong-way driver, identified as Wilmer Vizcaino, 29, of Waterbury. He reportedly ran from the scene but a K-9 was able to track him down in the woods near the exit ramp, state police said.
Vizcaino was emitting a strong smell of alcohol and did not pass the field sobriety tests, according to state police. He appeared injured from the collision and from not wearing a seatbelt, state police said. EMTs evaluated Vizcaino at the scene but he declined further medical treatment, state police said.
State police also determined that Vizcaino did not have a valid driver's license and that the vehicle was not registered, was uninsured and had a different vehicle's license plate.
Vizcaino was arrested and faces a dozen vehicle violation and road violation charges, including operating a vehicle under the influence, evading responsibility, driving the wrong way on a divided highway, and operating without a license. He was held on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.
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