A driver arrested after allegedly travelling the wrong way along Interstate 40 in Arizona told state troopers he was taking part in a dangerous game called “Lunatic”.
Several motorists called 911 on 20 September after seeing an SUV heading west in the eastbound lanes near the State Route 99 interchange outside Winslow.
Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers located the vehicle and brought it to a safe stop before anyone was injured. The driver was arrested on suspicion of endangerment and reckless driving.
During the investigation, the man reportedly said he had been playing “Lunatic” with two other people. He told troopers the game involved deliberately driving the wrong way on highways or interstates.
He also claimed to be the group’s “supervisor” because he was older than the other participants. The identities of the driver and the two people he referred to have not been released.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety praised the motorists who alerted authorities and issued a warning about dangerous driving trends.
“Risking lives for a ‘game’ = JAIL,” the department said. “No amount of ‘fun’ is worth risking your life or others.”
Troopers said wrong-way driving could quickly result in a fatal collision and urged members of the public not to take part in challenges or trends that put other road users at risk.
