Danbury Woman Drove Wrong Way On 1-84, Head-On Into Truck: Police

DANBURY, CT — Police have charged a Danbury woman with DUI after they say she drove the wrong way on Interstate 84 and collided with a tractor trailer early Monday morning.

State troopers responded to a report of a motorist travelling in the wrong direction between Exits 9 and 10 eastbound in Newtown at 2:13 a.m. First responders found both drivers outside their vehicles, unharmed.

According to their report, the troopers suspected that motorist Crystal Smith, 41, of Birch Street in Danbury was operating under the influence of alcohol. Smith refused to complete a standard field sobriety test, and taken into custody.

At Troop A Headquarters in Southbury, Smith was processed and charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, driving the wrong way, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. She was released on a $5,000 bond and scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on Nov. 15.

Connecticut has seen a rapid rise in wrong-way crashes in 2022. In fact, there have been 22 wrong way fatalities on Connecticut highways this year, which is more than the last three years combined.

The state Department of Transportation earlier this month unveiled a newly-installed wrong way driver detection system that aims to keep drivers from entering highway off ramps.

State officials held a demonstration of the technology in Southington near the I-84 Queen Street off-ramp.

The state Bond Commission approved $20 million to install wrong way mitigation devices around the state. Devices flash warning lights when a driver enters an off-ramp.

Patch editor Rich Scinto contributed to this story.