87-year old man drives wrong way on 195 causing crash

This afternoon at about 3:20 p.m., State Police received a report of a wrong way operator on Route 195, traveling westbound in the eastbound travel lanes in Mattapoisett.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Brendan Roper indicates that an 87-year-old Swansea man was traveling the wrong-way on Route 195, westbound in the eastbound, in Mattapoisett in a 2011 Toyota Camry. When the vehicle continued into Fairhaven, a 28-year-old New Bedford woman, who was traveling eastbound in a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser, traveled off the left side of the roadway into the median to avoid a collision and subsequently struck a tree.

A witness reported seeing the driver waving for other drivers to get out of the way. A short time later, Fairhaven Police were able to stop the wrong-way operator on Route 195 in Fairhaven.

The operator of the Chrysler was transported to Tobey Hospital for treatment of minor injuries and released.

The operator of the Toyota was issued a criminal summons for Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle. State Police also filed an immediate threat notification with the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

State Police were assisted on scene by Mattapoisett Fire and EMS.