Deputies find man passed out after wrong-way trip down US-41 in Collier County

A driver was arrested in Collier County after heading into oncoming traffic passed out behind the wheel Tuesday night.

Investigators say Alex Arias had his car idling in traffic for several minutes before driving the wrong way on US-41 near Cypress Lane and Naples Manor, narrowly avoiding other drivers on the busy street.

Maritza Williamson, who works at a store nearby, noticed the commotion. “I saw, like, five police… like, two or three, five working… helping people.”

Deputies say Arias was passed out over the middle console when they got to him. A witness helped them get Arias out of his car before he was revived with Narcan.

“I’m worried about that because I drive my car. And, you know, I try to respect everybody. So I need the same back,” said Williamson.

A ride-share driver tells WINK News he sees wrong-way drivers all the time.

“Even last night, there was a car come in the wrong way. And I beep the horn at it, and they kept going until they saw me going the right way… I keep 10 cars away from the car in front of me, because of things like that.”

Arias is being held in the Collier County Jail. When he got there, he did not allow deputies to perform an evaluation to see if he was impaired by drugs. Arias is facing several charges, including DUI and a felony habitual driving on a suspended license charge.