West Springfield man charged with DUI, wrongway driving in Connecticut
Apr 15, 2025
WINDSOR, Conn. (WWLP) - A West Springfield man was arrested and charged on multiple counts in Windsor, Connecticut on Saturday, including DUI and reckless driving.
Connecticut State Police said that at approximately 2:08 a.m. on Saturday, Hartford troopers received a complaint regarding the errat
ic operation of a vehicle traveling on I-91 northbound in the area of Exit 35 in Windsor. The car, a red sport utility vehicle, was allegedly driving without its headlights on and failing to maintain its lane.
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Troop desk personnel identified and located the vehicle driving on I-91 using state Department of Transportation (DOT) traffic cameras. This footage has been shared by the Connecticut State Police.
The vehicle was observed driving without lights and swerving across all lanes, then making a U-turn and driving in the wrong direction. The car then reportedly drove the wrong way off the Exit 37 on-ramp, turned around, and merged back onto I-91 to drive in the correct direction.
Troopers in the area activated their emergency lights and siren, and the vehicle began to slow and appeared to be taking Exit 38. The car began sliding into the soft shoulder, striking DOT signposts, then steered back back towards the highway and stopped in the right shoulder.
State Police said that troopers gave the operator clear verbal commands to shut off the vehicle and drop the keys outside, which he did. The driver was identified as 40-year-old William Chretien of West Springfield, Mass.
(Connecticut State Police)
Chretien was observed with red, glossy eyes, slurred speech, and emanating a strong alcoholic odor. The troopers asked him to submit to a Standardized Field Sobriety Test, which he failed. Chretien was arrested and charged with:
Reckless Driving
Illegal operation of a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs
Failure to Maintain Proper Lane- Limited Access Highway
Driving the Wrong Way on a Divided Highway
Illegal Entry onto Limited Access Highway
Failure to Display Lights
During processing, chemical testing revealed that Chretien had a blood alcohol content exceeding the legal limit. He was released from custody on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Hartford Superior Court on April 24.
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