Police: Woman charged with DUI after driving wrong way on Gold Star

Groton — A woman was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs after a state trooper spotted her driving the wrong way on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge early Friday morning, according to state police.

Amy Peterson, 29, of Putnam was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and traveling the wrong way on a limited access highway, according to Connecticut State Police at Troop E in Montville.

Trooper Charles Workman of Troop E was parked in the Groton turnaround on the bridge on Interstate 95 about 2:49 a.m., when he saw a vehicle enter the highway from Route 184 heading southbound in the northbound lanes, police said.

Workman drove over to the New London side of the bridge to try to stop the vehicle driven by Peterson. She nearly struck the police cruiser, which had its emergency lights on, police said. Other troopers headed north trying to intercept Peterson as Workman went to the southbound side of the highway. Troopers signaled for her to stop and she eventually slowed down and pulled over, police said.

Peterson was given a roadside sobriety test, which police said she failed, and was taken into custody.

Troop E posted a video of the incident on its Facebook page encouraging drivers to travel in the right lane, since wrong-way drivers are most likely to travel in the left, and to call 911 if they see a wrong-way driver.

Peterson was taken into custody and held on a $500 nonsurety bond. She was scheduled to appear in court in New London on July 23.

To view a video of the incident visit www.theday.com.