Elderly wrong-way driver stopped on Valley freeway during rush hour

PHOENIX – An elderly wrong-way driver was stopped on an East Valley freeway during rush hour Wednesday morning.

Just after 7 a.m., the Arizona Department of Public Safety said it received reports of a red pickup truck in the left shoulder traveling in the wrong direction on westbound Interstate 10 in Chandler.

The vehicle, going approximately 40-50 mph, transitioned to the eastbound Loop 202 Santan Freeway, where a DPS sergeant was able to stop it near McClintock Drive.

#Chandler ****** WRONG WAY STOP, WB 202 Santan / McClintock! pic.twitter.com/UZCZwoyIbJ

— Gil Estrada (@PhxTrafficAlert) July 18, 2018

Sgt. Matthew Kunda activated his lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the vehicle as it drove on the I-10.

The vehicle then made its way on the eastbound Loop 202, traveling in the wrong direction at about 50 mph.

Trooper Jordan Stevens then attempted to slow down westbound traffic on the Loop 202 to allow Kunda to stop the wrong-way driver.

“The quick actions of Sergeant Kunda, and the collaboration between troopers in the field and in the Traffic Operations Center, no doubt, saved lives today,” Col. Frank Milstead said in a statement.

“Wrong way driving incidents are fast, dynamic, and extremely dangerous. Also, considering this incident occurred during morning rush hour traffic, the end result could’ve been deadly had it not been for the decisiveness and bravery of our AZDPS sergeant and Highway Patrol troopers.”

The driver, later identified as 73-year-old Richard Elliott of Phoenix, was booked on two counts of felony endangerment. Officials have not yet ruled out impairment.

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