Rhode Island man charged after being accused of driving the wrong way on highway

The South Kingstown Police department today released details of the arrest of a wrong-way driver on Route 1 this morning.

According to police, at approximately 3:40 a.m., an officer was alerted by a passing motorist to a wrong-way driver who was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Route 1.

Officers located the vehicle in the area of Government Center and were able to get it stopped. The operator, 32-year-old Jaime L. Cafferty of South Kingstown, was found to be extremely confused and suspected of being impaired by liquor and or drugs. He was placed into custody and transported to South County Hospital, where he consented to a chemical test (blood draw).

He was charged at the South Kingstown Police station and will be arraigned this morning in 4th Division District Court.

“This driver’s bad decision to get behind the wheel could have led to a tragedy this morning.” said Matthew C. Moynihan, Chief of Police for South Kingstown. “I want to commend the good work of our officers who moved quickly – and risked their own safety – to get this dangerous driver off the road.”