Troopers arrest wrong-way driver on I-15; DUI suspected

File photo: Gephardt Daily

DRAPER, Utah, Jan. 14, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A man was arrested Saturday evening after he allegedly drove the wrong way on Interstate 15 with an open container in his car while under the influence.

Claudio Cesar Franceschi, 60, is facing charges of class A misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, class C misdemeanor open container on a highway, and infractions wrong way on one-way street, driving over gore or island, and failure to operate within a single lane, according to a probable cause statement from the 3rd District Court of Salt Lake City.

The statement said that on Saturday, just before 6 p.m., a UHP trooper was dispatched to a reckless driver in the area of I-215 South, westbound, heading towards I-15 southbound. The reporting party described the driver as weaving in between lanes, and gave the license plate of the vehicle and described it as a gray Nissan sedan.

“Another trooper located the vehicle as it drove through the gore area for the 12300 South on-ramp, I-15 southbound,” the statement said. “The vehicle drove the wrong way, off the on-ramp. The other trooper located the vehicle at the bottom of the 12300 South on-ramp.”

The vehicle then went wrong way on the off ramp, to I-15 northbound. The trooper again located the vehicle in the 12300 South off ramp gore area.

The vehicle was stopped by troopers, and the driver was identified from his driver’s license as Franceschi. He told troopers he takes prescription medication due to a back surgery.

The arresting officer reported that he asked the driver if he had consumed alcohol and his response was “some.”

“I could detect the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the suspect in an open air environment,” the statement said. “I could see his eyes were red and glossy and his facial features appeared to be relaxed.”

When the driver completed the field sobriety tests, it was determined he might be impaired, and he was placed under arrest.

When Franceschi’s vehicle was searched, an open bottle of vodka was located in the
driver’s door pocket, the statement said.

Franceschi was transported to the Salt Lake County Jail and subsequently released on his own recognizance.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here