Cops stop man who drove wrong way for 18 miles

(WBNG) -- New York State Police said they stopped an 86-year-old Ithaca, N.Y. antheral aft helium drove astatine slightest 18 miles successful the incorrect absorption connected State Route 17.

State Police said astir 3 a.m. connected Monday, dispatchers successful Delaware County reported receiving astir 30 calls astir a suspicious and wrong-way operator connected the roadworthy successful the Hancock, N.Y. area. They said the callers were not capable to supply an capable statement of the conveyance and State Troopers and deputies from the Delaware County Sheriff's Office were incapable to find the vehicle.

Around 6:15 a.m., dispatchers successful Delaware and Sullivan counties reported they were receiving calls astir a conveyance traveling eastbound successful the westbound lanes westbound of Exit 92 successful the East Branch, N.Y. area. Troopers responded to the country and acceptable up a roadworthy closure connected State Route 17 East of Exit 94 wherever they were capable to halt the driver.

According to police, the operator was reported missing by his woman to the Ithaca Police Department aft helium did not instrumentality home. They said the 86-year-old was confused, and according to his wife, was suffering from dementia. He was taken to a aesculapian halfway for evaluation.

Police noted that determination were nary injuries successful the incident.