Cops: Wrong-way Southern driver was high

A Huntington man who drove the wrong way for about five miles Friday on the Southern State Parkway between Islip Terrace and North Bay Shore faces a charge of driving while under the influence of drugs, State Police said.

John Brooks, 28, told troopers he had taken prescription drugs when he was stopped about 2:30 a.m., traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the parkway, police said.

Troopers were dispatched to the parkway after reports of a car near Carleton Avenue in Islip Terrace going the wrong way, according to a news release.

Brooks was stopped by troopers near Exit 42, Fifth Avenue, in North Bay Shore, police said.

Maps and directions from various websites show the distance between Fifth Avenue and Carleton Avenue to be from 4.5 to 5.2 miles.

Brooks failed sobriety tests and was arrested, police said.

Police said Brooks agreed to a blood test and was charged with DWI drugs and several traffic violations.

He was released with an appearance ticket and given a Feb. 13 court date.