CENTRAL ISLIP — New York State troopers arrested a wrong-way driver on the Southern State Parkway on Sept. 6 after receiving multiple reports of a vehicle traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.
Troopers received the reports at approximately 10:51 p.m. in the area of exit 44.
Officers quickly responded to the scene, where they slowed down traffic driving in the correct direction while locating and stopping the wrong-way vehicle.
The coordinated response prevented any collisions, crashes or injuries.
The operator of the 2009 Toyota Camry was identified as Aristides Alfredo Villatoro, 54, of Central Islip.
Troopers determined Villatoro was intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of .19%, more than twice the legal limit.
Villatoro was taken into custody and charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment in the second degree, aggravated DWI and multiple vehicle and traffic law violations.
