Madison Atkinson

Arizona Republic

A wrong-way driver on the southbound Loop 101 in Tempe was taken into custody Wednesday morning.

Troopers reported receiving multiple phone calls at 4:30 a.m. about a wrong-way driver on State Route 101 at Thomas Road, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Nelson Sapata, 21, from Glendale, was traveling in the high-occupancy vehicle lane and exited at Guadalupe Road, officials said.

According to the DPS, Chandler police tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver did not yield and re-entered the Loop 101 heading northbound.

Sapata took the Baseline Road exit and was found by troopers in a neighborhood near Baseline Road and Rural Road, DPS said.

MORE: Ramp-meter lights will be used to warn other motorists of wrong-way drivers

DPS said Sapata obeyed the traffic laws, but at Kyrene Road, the driver turned around and hit the front of a DPS patrol car and continued east onto Baseline Road.

At Mill Avenue, police used the police intervention technique which abruptly turned the car sideways, causing the driver to lose control and stop, officials said.

Troopers are conducting a DUI investigation, and Sapata has an active warrant, according to DPS.

No injuries were reported, but Sapata has been booked into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of two counts of aggravated DUI, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, unlawful flight and three counts of endangerment.

Check back at azcentral.com for updates.

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