Wrong-Way Driver on Bald Hill Road Charged with DUI

Warwick, RI – Officer Javier Cabreja was called to the area of 500 Bald Hill Road March 15 at about 2:37 a.m. for a report of a wrong-way driver, finding a fellow officer had already stopped the car near the I-295 ramp.

Cabreja met with Sgt. Scott Robillard, who had pulled over the black 2011 Infinity driven by Paul Kourkoulos, 43, of 2 Harvest Drive, Apt. 309, North Andover, after watching it driving in the wrong lane on Bald Hill Road, according to the officer’s report.

Cabreja spoke with Kourkoulos, who appeared confused, saying he was not familiar with the area and was lost, which is why he was driving the wrong way, according to the report. The driver told Cabreja he’d had three alcoholic drinks that night, and had been traveling from Providence.

Cabreja reported noting a strong odor of alcohol on Kourkoulos’ breath, and asked him to complete field sobriety tests, to which he agreed. As Kourkoulos exited the car, Cabreja noted he leaned against his car to stand and swayed side to side.

Cabreja noted a lack of smooth pursuit in Kourkoulos’s vision, started early and didn’t keep heel-to-toe cadence and stepped off the line during the walk-and-turn, and put his foot down repeatedly during the one-leg stand.

Cabreja arrested Kourkoulos on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, and transported him to Warwick Police Heaquarters at 99 Veterans Memorial Highway, where he refused to submit to a breath test.

Kourkoulos is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on the charges in Third District Court on April 13.

The officer charged Kourkoulos with driving under the influence of alcohol, first offense. The officer also cited him for driving the wrong way, and for refusing the breath test.