CHEAT LAKE, W.Va. — Deputies from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department quickly responded to a wrong way driver on I-68 early Friday in the Cheat Lake area.
Monongalia County Sheriff Todd Forbes said around 1:35 a.m. the deputy first saw the vehicle near the Sabraton exit driving east in the westbound lanes. Forbes said at that time of day deputies had much less traffic volume, making their job slightly less dangerous for the traveling public.
“Our deputy was able to get in behind the vehicle and activate lights and sirens to initiate a stop, but unfortunately the vehicle didn’t stop right away and continued for a few miles,” Forbes said. “Ultimately, the vehicle did stop and pull over.”
Forbes said the car was driven by a 52-year-old Morgantown man who said he was driving from Clarksburg to Morgantown.
“We can say for sure our deputy saw them around the 4.5 mile marker in Sabraton, and they went all the way out to the Cheat Lake exit 10, so we know they were on the wrong side of the interstate for about six miles.”
The unidentified driver was arrested at the scene without incident.
“The driver was ultimately charged with a DUI,” Forbes said. “I think it was an aggravated DUI, so that would be .15.”
Forbes credited the deputies and dispatchers that worked to diffuse a very stressful incident quickly and carefully.
“I say this all the time, but we have the best guys, trained professionals who act accordingly,” Forbes said. “So, anything that comes before them, they are able to process and deal with professionally.”