Wrong-way driver charged with DWI in Shirley, Suffolk Sheriff's Office says

Suffolk County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Mastic Beach woman and charged her with driving while intoxicated after police said she was driving the wrong way on Sunrise Highway in Shirley Friday night.

Sheriff’s deputies transporting a different person, also charged with driving while intoxicated, spotted a car heading west in the eastbound lanes on Sunrise Highway at about 11:45 p.m. The driver nearly crashed into the Sheriff’s Office vehicle, sheriff’s officials said.

The deputies called for another deputy to stop the wrong way driver near Exit 58, sheriff’s officials said.

Police charged Dawn Clark, 56, with driving while intoxicated and reckless endangerment. Police said a breathalyzer test showed her blood alcohol concentration was 0.19% — twice the legal limit of .08%.

Clark was arraigned Saturday and released, according to court records.

Clark is represented by Suffolk County Legal Aid, the court records said. No one from that office could immediately be reached Saturday.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.