On Wednesday, March 5th, 2025, at approximately 8:30 PM, State Police Troop H - Hartford began receiving 911 calls of a wrong way driver on Route 5/15 in East Hartford. Troop H was able to confirm that a dark colored SUV entered the off-ramp the wrong way and began traveling southbound in the northbound lanes.
Troopers responded to the area and were able to locate the vehicle and successfully stopped it in the right shoulder of Route 5/15. The vehicle was not involved in any collision prior to being stopped. The driver was instructed out of the vehicle and was identified as Joshua Halla (DOB 03/18/1998) of Wethersfield.
While on scene, Halla admitted to smoking marijuana prior to driving his vehicle, and stated he was "intentionally driving the wrong direction" for an unknown reason. Halla was placed under arrest and transported to Troop H for processing. Halla was charged with the following:
C.G.S. 14-227a - Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs
C.G.S. 14-222 - Reckless Driving
C.G.S. 14-237 - Driving the Wrong Way on a Highway
C.G.S. 53a-63 - Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree
C.G.S. 53a-49/53a-60d - Criminal Attempt at Assault Second Degree with a Motor Vehicle
Halla was later released on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Hartford Superior Court, on 03/28/2025.
Please see attached criminal information summary.
