Montville I-395 Wrong-Way Driver Charged

MONTVILLE, CT — A week after a wrong-way driving collision in North Stonington claimed three lives, Connecticut State Police arrested a New Britain man after authorities say he drove nearly nine miles in the wrong direction on Route 2A and Interstate 395.

Kevin Ayotte, 54, was charged with operating under the influence among other charges.

It was just before midnight on Thursday night Oct. 17 when Troop E got lots of 911 calls about the wrong-way driver. Police said the car was traveling westbound on the eastbound side of Route 2A in Montville and then kept going the wrong way, northbound on the southbound side, on the Police tried to stop the car but said the driver "actively attempted to elude apprehension." So cops put out stop sticks, which the car ran over causing two flats. But the driver kept going, police said, into Norwich. Troopers said when Ayotte was finally stopped, he smelled strongly of alcohol.

Ayotte was charged with operating under the influence, reckless driving, driving the wrong way on a highway, disobeying the signal of an officer, interfering with an officer, and reckless endangerment.