Wrong-Way Driving Mine Hill Man Faces NY DWI Charges

RAMAPO, NY — A Mine Hill, New Jersey man faces drunk driving charges after a police officer observed him wrong-way driving on Route 17 in Rockland County. At about 5:30 a.m. Saturday, the officer was travelling south on Route 17 in Sloatsburg, near Davis' Sport Shop — a divided section of the highway with a cement wall separating the north and southbound lanes.

Then, police said, the officer saw another vehicle approaching him head on. It was travelling north in the southbound lanes, on the wrong side of the cement divider.

Fortunately traffic was light and the officer was able to avoid the oncoming car and apprehend the violator quickly, police said. As the officer approached, the vehicle was stopped with a flat tire, in the passing lane of Route 17. The car was stopped faced in the wrong direction, north in the southbound lane near Auntie El's.

The officers on scene utilized emergency lighting to alert motorists travelling on Route 17. The driver of the vehicle, Sergio Rodriguez, 22, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Thanks to the officer's response this 'wrong way driver' was stopped before anyone was hurt, Ramapo police said.

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