Woman Arrested After Driving Wrong Way On Route 4

State Police arrested Maryanne L. Speicher, 22, of 130 MaryAnn Way, North Attleboro, Mass., for driving north in the southbound lane of Route 4 in East Greenwich. 

According to a statement released by Col. Stephen O'Donnell, State Police superintendent and public safety commissioner, Speicher was seen driving onto Route 4 from the off-ramp at Division Street at about 2:20 a.m. Thursday. The car drove past the trooper on duty, heading north in the southbound lane of Route 4 toward Route 95. 

Troopers were able to stop Speicher at Route 95 before her vehicle struck oncoming traffic, according to the statement. Troopers noticed that she smelled of alcohol and that her eyes were bloodshot and watery and her speech was slurred.   

She was arrested and taken to the Wickford Barracks. At the barracks, she became extremely incoherent and finally lost consciousness. She was taken to Kent Hospital by the North Kingstown Fire Department for observation and treatment.    

Her blood alcohol content (BAC) was not known, but Supt. O'Donnell noted, as a rule, a loss of consciousness begins at around a BAC of .30 percent and the onset of coma and possible death due to respiratory arrest begins at around a BAC of .40 percent. The legal limit for a BAC is .08 percent.

Ms. Speicher was given a summons to appear in Third Division District Court for arraignment on a charge of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol-Drugs, BAC Unknown and Reckless Driving.  She will also be charged at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal with One Way Highways-Driving the Wrong Way and Presence of an Alcoholic Beverage while Operating a Vehicle.

“The Division of State Police continues to see this egregious and dangerous behavior on our roadways," said O'Donnell. "We are fortunate that the quick action of a Trooper prevented another potential tragedy. The State Police will use all resources available to the Division, including overtime patrols using low-profile vehicles, to remain vigilant and curb this activity.”

He reminded motorists they can immediately report dangerous drivers or hazardous roadway conditions to the police by dialing 911 or *77 on a cell phone.