A driver is instructed to complete field sobriety tests after driving the wrong way on Telegraph Road.
By: Mary Beth Almond | Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle | Published May 7, 2024
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — A 55-year-old man from Wixom was arrested after driving the wrong way on Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Township the night of April 28.
According to Bloomfield Township police, multiple 911 calls came in for a wrong-way driver in a white Volvo traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Telegraph Road, from Long Lake Road, at around 9 p.m.
Responding to the scene, officers saw the Volvo approaching Quarton Road still traveling the wrong way and activated their emergency lights in an effort to alert the heavy traffic headed northbound.
The Volvo passed a police cruiser at approximately 50 mph traveling southbound in the northbound lanes and continued on, nearly striking a motorcyclist, police said.
After a brief police pursuit, the driver pulled over near Country Club Drive and eventually admitted to drinking a $3.99 bottle of wine.
Following field sobriety tests, the man was arrested and transported to the Bloomfield Township Police Department. He consented to a breath test, revealing a 0.18% blood alcohol content — which is more than twice the legal limit for drivers.
The man was held overnight and was released with an appearance ticket for operating while intoxicated.
“We commend our officers for their quick reaction and warning to motorists that may have prevented a severe crash,” Officer Nick Soley said in a statement.
The Bloomfield Township Police Department said they arrested five impaired drivers the same week.
“Driving under the influence is not only against the law, but it puts the lives of innocent individuals at risk. We remind the community that drinking and driving is never acceptable. Always designate a sober driver or use alternative means of transportation, such as ride-sharing,” Solely said in a statement.