Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Erin Valente, 49, of Coram was arrested for driving while intoxicated after allegedly traveling the wrong way on Route 112 in East Patchogue on March 26 at approximately 6:09 p.m., according to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies observed Valente driving a Ford Fusion southbound in the northbound lanes of Route 112 near Sunrise Highway and conducted a traffic stop before any crashes occurred.
When deputies approached Valente’s vehicle, they observed that her speech was slurred, her eyes were bloodshot, and there was a strong odor of alcohol on her breath, police report. Field sobriety tests indicated she was intoxicated, and a subsequent chemical breath test revealed a blood alcohol content of .25%, which is more than three times the legal limit of .08%. Valente was charged with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated and other traffic violations.
“I commend our deputy sheriffs for stopping a tragedy from occurring on our roadways. This woman was more than three times the legal limit and had no business being on the roadways,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.
The same evening brought three additional DWI arrests across Suffolk County during routine patrol operations. At approximately 10:36 p.m., deputies arrested Katelyn Baer, 20, after finding her stopped in the right lane of eastbound Sunrise Highway near Exit 46A with her hazard lights activated. When deputies approached to conduct a welfare check, Baer allegedly began to drive away on a blown-out front tire rim, according to police reports.
Deputies observed signs of intoxication in Baer, including slurred speech, bloodshot and glassy eyes, and unsteady movement. A chemical breath test later revealed Baer’s BAC was .24%, nearly three times the legal limit. She was charged with Driving While Intoxicated and related offenses.
Earlier that evening at approximately 10:18 p.m., deputies arrested Elias Rudy, 46, on the westbound Long Island Expressway near Exit 62 after observing him speeding at approximately 75 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. Deputies noted signs of intoxication including bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol. Rudy allegedly failed field sobriety tests and later refused to submit to a chemical breath test. Police records indicate Rudy has multiple prior DWI-related convictions within the past 15 years.
The final arrest occurred at approximately 1:50 a.m. on March 27, when Kelly Bautista-Lema, 27, was arrested on eastbound Sunrise Highway west of Exit 52A after failing to maintain her lane. Deputies observed signs of intoxication including bloodshot eyes and the odor of alcohol. Bautista-Lema admitted to consuming alcohol and failed field sobriety tests, according to the Sheriff’s Department. A chemical breath test revealed a BAC of .14%.
“All of these drivers posed a serious danger to the public and I once again applaud our Deputy Sheriffs for keeping our communities safe. Let this serve as a reminder: if you are under the influence, do not get behind the wheel,” Sheriff Toulon said. All defendants were charged with Driving While Intoxicated and related offenses.
Location & Road Context
The primary incident occurred on Route 112 near Sunrise Highway in East Patchogue, a busy intersection that connects north-south traffic along Route 112 with the major east-west arterial of Sunrise Highway (Route 27). Route 112 serves as a critical corridor connecting communities from Patchogue northward through Medford, continuing into central Suffolk County.
The additional arrests spanned multiple major roadways across Suffolk County, including Sunrise Highway near exits 46A and 52A, and the Long Island Expressway near Exit 62. These locations represent some of the busiest traffic corridors on Long Island, making impaired driving incidents particularly dangerous due to high traffic volumes and speeds.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Valente faces charges of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated due to her exceptionally high BAC reading of .25%. The three other defendants were charged with standard Driving While Intoxicated offenses and related violations. Rudy’s case is particularly notable given his multiple prior DWI-related convictions within the past 15 years, which could result in enhanced penalties under New York’s repeat offender statutes.
The refusal by Rudy to submit to chemical breath testing will likely result in additional administrative penalties, including automatic license suspension under New York’s implied consent laws, regardless of the outcome of criminal proceedings.
Broader Impact
Wrong-way driving incidents like Valente’s case represent some of the most dangerous scenarios on Long Island roadways, with the potential for catastrophic head-on collisions at highway speeds. The swift intervention by Suffolk County deputies prevented what could have been a fatal crash on one of the region’s busiest north-south corridors during evening rush hour traffic.