Intoxicated 83-year-old drove backwards on ATE motorway in Phthiotis – arrested
An elderly driver travelled in the opposite direction on the ATE motorway from Thermopylae to Agia Triada toll booths. Breathalyser reading showed 0.58 mg/l; he was released on the prosecutor's orders.
83-year-old driver arrested whilst intoxicated after driving backwards on ATE motorway for eight kilometres
Ethnos reports that on Tuesday evening, an alert was raised in Phthiotis when an 83-year-old driver was found travelling in the opposite direction on the ATE motorway. The incident caused alarm amongst passing drivers, who saw him heading directly towards them.
According to LamiaReport, citing relevant reports, the elderly man entered the motorway via a service road at the 203 kilometre mark, at the level of Thermopylae. Instead of following the correct direction, he drove towards Athens in the traffic lane designated for Thessalonica-bound traffic.
Drivers who noticed the vehicle travelling backwards immediately alerted emergency services, describing the dangerous trajectory of the car.
Stopped at Agia Triada toll booths
The 83-year-old continued driving in the opposite direction for several kilometres, reaching as far as the Agia Triada toll booths at the 195 kilometre mark. According to the same information, at that point he apparently realised he was in the wrong traffic lane and attempted to reverse on the road surface.
A unit from the Investigation and Crime Detection Directorate of Lamia Security, which was already in the area, intervened immediately and immobilised the vehicle before an accident could occur. A patrol car from the 2nd Motorway Traffic Department of Phthiotis also arrived at the scene.
The vehicle was towed from the location by recovery services. According to one of the reports, a unit from the Central Road took charge of traffic management in the section where the vehicle had stopped.
Breathalyser reading 0.58 mg/l – file opened for dangerous driving
Traffic police officers administered a breathalyser test to the driver, which registered 0.58 mg/l, confirming that he was under the influence of alcohol. The 83-year-old was arrested and a file was opened against him for dangerous driving and violations of the Road Traffic Code.
On the verbal orders of the Prosecutor of the Lamia Court of First Instance, he was released. A trial date is to be set for the case. The preliminary investigation was taken on by the 2nd Motorway Traffic Department of Phthiotis.
Source: Ethnos