A tractor-trailer was photographed driving south in the northbound lane on Interstate 89 near Exit 5 in Williamstown on Tuesday. Photo provided by Vermont State Police
A tractor-trailer truck driver is facing charges after police say he drove the wrong way for about 10 miles on Interstate 89 in the Randolph area Tuesday afternoon, running several other vehicles off the road.
There were no injuries or crashes reported, Vermont State Police said in a release.
Daniel F. Sheehan Jr., 63, of North Grafton, Massachusetts, the driver of the tractor-trailer truck, was charged with driving under the influence and gross negligent operation of a commercial vehicle motor vehicle, according to police.
Police said after Sheehan was stopped and asked about the incident he was “unable to provide an explanation as to how he ended up driving (the) wrong way against the flow of traffic for approximately 10 miles.”
Calls started coming to the dispatch center around 2:50 p.m. Tuesday reporting that a tractor-trailer truck was driving south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 89 in the area of Exit 5 in Williamstown, according to police.
Troopers from Royalton and Middlesex as well as state Department of Motor Vehicles inspectors working in the Randolph area were able to make contact with Sheheen in the area of mile marker 33, still heading against the flow of traffic in the northbound lanes, police said.
Sheehan was screened at the roadside for suspected impaired driving and was later taken to the Royalton barracks for processing for suspected driving under the influence, according to the release.
He’s due in Orange County Superior criminal court in Chelsea for an arraignment on the charges on July 24.
Trooper Patrick Tingle, who handled the case, could not immediately be reached Tuesday afternoon for comment.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Police: Trucker who drove 10 miles the wrong way on I-89 faces DUI charge.