(Image source from: DPS officer risks life and stops wrong-way driver on I-17})

An Arizona Department of Public Safety officer had to forcibly stop a driver who had travelled between nine to 10 miles the wrong way on Interstate 17 late Monday night.

Police said they received between 25 and 30 calls about 10:50 p.m. identifying a driver going north in the southbound lanes of Interstate 17.

The DPS officer executed a "pit maneuver" in which he clipped the side of the wrong-way vehicle with his patrol SUV near the Carefree Highway on-ramp about 11 p.m., a DPS spokesman said.

The driver of the car, 44-year-old Carmelina F. Long, was arrested and taken into custody for a DUI investigation, the spokesman said.

She was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on suspicion of extreme DUI, aggravated assault, endangerment and criminal damage.

Officer Schmidt claims he used his patrol car to simultaneously weave across the highway to slow traffic, and as he made his final loop, and then rammed into the side of the suspect’s car. He said even after impact, her car kept moving.

Officer Schmidt Didn't Have any much injuries, as did the wrong-way driver,He was aware that risking his life to save others but he didn’t hesitate to do it again.

“This is our job. And actually I’m tired of seeing the fatalities,” he said.

AW: Arun Kumar