Staff Report / tempelocal.org

**Trooper Stops Wrong-Way Driver on SR-101 in Scottsdale**

In the early hours of Saturday, December 7, 2024, a dangerous wrong-way driving incident unfolded on State Route 101 near Via Linda Road in Scottsdale, Arizona.

At 1:17 a.m., Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) dispatchers began receiving reports of a southbound vehicle traveling in the northbound HOV lane of SR-101.

At approximately 1:23 a.m., a responding trooper located the wrong-way vehicle near the SR-101 and Loop 202 interchange. In a decisive move, the trooper intentionally collided head-on with the wrong-way driver’s vehicle, effectively bringing it to a stop.

Remarkably, both the trooper and the driver were unharmed during the incident.

The driver, identified as 26-year-old Nicholas Chavez, was taken into custody and transported to Maricopa County Jail. Chavez faces multiple charges, including aggravated DUI – driving the wrong way.

Authorities continue to emphasize the role of impairment in wrong-way driving situations and urge motorists to avoid driving under the influence. AZDPS advises all drivers to remain vigilant and to always drive sober or designate a driver to ensure safety.

For more information on AZDPS’s efforts to prevent impaired driving, follow #AZTroopers and #CourteousVigilance.

Source: Arizona DPS

Source Type: Police

Source Location:

Scottsdale, AZ

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