Wrong-Way Driver Travels 20 Miles on I-89, Stopped After Near Head-On Collision

By Michael Donoghue - Vermont News First

ROYALTON -- A New York man, who state police say drove in the wrong direction for at least 20 miles on Interstate 89 on Sunday, is facing a charge of gross negligent operation.

Dezhong Jiang, 58, of Flushing, N.Y. was driving south in the northbound lane and nearly caused at least one head-on crash before state police got him stopped in Royalton near the exit 3 interchange about 2 a.m. Sunday, police said.

Jiang is believed to have started going in the wrong direction in either Berlin near exit 6 or Northfield near exit 5, according to Sgt. Austin Soule, a patrol commander from the Royalton barracks.

He continued south in the northbound lane until the stop was made safely by police, Soule said. He said both lanes were blocked off and Jiang slowed to a stop upon seeing and hearing the blue lights and siren.

There was no sign of impairment and that may have helped bring the incident to a successful conclusion, Soule said. He said Jiang appeared to just be confused about the highway.

Jiang was taken into custody without incident and transported to the State Police barracks in Royalton for processing. While Jiang spoke some English, a translator was used to ensure he fully understood the situation, Soule said.

State police said they released Jiang with a citation ordering him to appear in Vermont Superior Court in Woodstock on Sept. 2 for the gross negligent operation charge.