By Tiffany Williams –
A Virginia man was busted after allegedly barreling the wrong way down Interstate 295 late Friday night, triggering a wave of frantic 911 calls and a high-stakes takedown by Maine State Police.
Cops say the chaos unfolded around 11:30 p.m. when reports flooded in about a driver heading north in the southbound lanes near mile marker 37. Troopers raced to intercept as the rogue vehicle tore through Bowdoinham, forcing officers to act fast before disaster struck.
One Troop I trooper cut into position, spotted the suspect speeding straight toward oncoming traffic, and made a bold move — boxing the car in before it could cause carnage. The risky maneuver paid off, bringing the wrong-way ride to a halt without anyone getting hurt.
Behind the wheel, police say, was 26-year-old Rashard Robinson of Chesapeake, Virginia. He was cuffed on the spot and hauled to the Kennebec County Jail, charged with Operating Under the Influence and Reckless Conduct with a Dangerous Weapon. State Police thanked alert motorists and the Gardiner Police Department for helping stop what could have been a deadly disaster.