An Illinois driver was arrested on driving while intoxicated charges after traveling in the wrong direction on I-88 Saturday night.
At about 10:25pm Saturday, the State Police communications and the Schoharie County 911 dispatchers received several calls reporting a vehicle westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-88, according to the Schoharie County Sheriff's Office. The vehicle was crossing the Schenectady-Schoharie County line.
A Schoharie County depputy located the vehicle still traveling in the wrong direction in the Town of Schoharie near the Wetsel Hollow overpass.
The vehicle was stopped by deputies and the operator stated he was headed to Oneonta, police added.
The operator was identified as Brett A. Schwab, 44, of Downers Grove, Illinois. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal of a pre-screening test and driving the wrong way on a one-way highway, according to police. He was arraigned and sent to jail in lieu of $5,000 bail to return to court on June 22.
Sergeant Jeff Bever and Deputy Rich Bialkowski (working part time for the Sheriff's Office) did a great job stopping a possible very serious incident, Sheriff Tony Desmond said. Sergeant Bever faced the vehicle head on to get it stopped and Deputy Bialkowski was right behind him.
"Someone could have been killed with the traffic out there," the Sheriff added.
Deputies were assisted by the Cobleskill Police Department.