Wrong-Way Crash on Route 6 Ends in DUI Arrest in Killingly
Late on the night of January 28, 2026, a dangerous wrong-way crash unfolded on Route 6 in Killingly, Connecticut, ending with the arrest of a local woman on serious driving charges and raising concerns about impaired driving on one of the region’s busiest roads. According to official Connecticut State Police reports, the incident occurred around 10:03 p.m. near the intersection of Route 6 and Route 12, when a state trooper observed a vehicle traveling the wrong direction in the eastbound lane.
The Criminal Information Summary identifies the arrestee as Dawn Marie Dubois, a 50-year-old woman from Danielson. Police allege she was operating a 2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport when she drove westbound in the eastbound lane, creating an immediate hazard for oncoming traffic. At that moment, Sergeant Russell Cote, who was on duty in a marked cruiser, saw the wrong-way driver approaching and took emergency action. He activated his cruiser’s emergency lights and positioned his vehicle in the lane of travel in an attempt to stop the oncoming car before anyone was seriously hurt.
What happened next was not a simple stop. Police reports indicate that Dubois appeared to slow down as if she might comply. But instead of stopping fully, she allegedly attempted to maneuver around the driver’s side of the police cruiser. That decision led directly to a collision. The Hyundai struck the front driver-side fender and bumper area of Sergeant Cote’s Dodge Durango cruiser, causing moderate damage to both vehicles. The Accident Information Summary notes that both vehicles sustained impact damage in the same general front-side sector, consistent with the attempted pass and crash described by troopers.
Despite the seriousness of the wrong-way driving and the crash involving a police vehicle, both drivers reported no apparent injuries and refused medical attention at the scene. Dubois was not transported to the hospital, and neither was Sergeant Cote. The Hyundai Sonata was towed away by Knox Towing, while the state police cruiser remained operable enough not to require towing.
Following the collision, troopers conducted an investigation at the scene. The Criminal Information Summary states that probable cause was established, and Dubois was subsequently arrested for Operating Under the Influence. In addition to the DUI-related charge, she also faced charges for disobeying the signal of an officer and failing to drive in the proper lane. The summary reflects the seriousness of the situation: wrong-way driving is one of the most lethal roadway behaviors, and when combined with suspected impairment, it becomes a catastrophic risk to the public.
The charges listed against Dubois include Disobeying Signal of Officer, Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, and Failure to Drive in Proper Lane. Her bond was set at $500, and she was scheduled to appear in Danielson Superior Court on February 11, 2026.
The official narrative laid out in these state police documents paints a clear sequence: a wrong-way driver late at night, a trooper attempting to intervene, an attempted evasive maneuver instead of compliance, a crash with a police cruiser, and an arrest for impaired driving. While no one was physically injured in this incident, the outcome could have been far worse. Wrong-way collisions at highway speeds often result in fatalities, and the fact that this incident ended with only moderate vehicle damage is largely a matter of timing and circumstance.
This case serves as another stark reminder of how quickly impaired or reckless driving can escalate into a life-threatening event. A single wrong turn, a single impaired decision, or a single refusal to stop can endanger not only the driver but everyone else on the road, including law enforcement officers working to protect the public.
As this matter moves through the court system, it underscores the ongoing importance of traffic enforcement, DUI prevention, and public awareness, especially during nighttime hours when wrong-way incidents are more likely to occur. For the residents of Killingly and the greater Quiet Corner region, the crash on Route 6 is a sobering example of how close an ordinary winter night can come to tragedy.
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