911 calls from wrong-way drunk driver released

David Thigpen, 55, pleads guilty to DUI, fleeing police in I-295 incident

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A driver going the wrong way on the Dames Point Bridge early Tuesday morning hit another car, injuring himself and another driver and causing traffic delays for hours.

Nearly two months ago, a similar situation on Interstate 295 near Gate Parkway had motorists scrambling to notify authorities.

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David Thigpen, 55, was northbound on the inside shoulder of southbound I-295 near Gate Parkway when he was caught by police, but according to 911 callers, Thigpen had been driving on the wrong side of the highway for miles.

Callers told dispatchers that Thigpen (pictured below) had been driving the wrong direction since the 9B at Philips Highway interchange.

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office booking photo of David Thigpen

"It looks like a man and it's a burgundy SUV, and he looks oblivious. I don't think he has a clue," one caller said.

LISTEN: 8 motorists call 911 to report wrong-way driver

Southbound drivers were frantic as Thigpen drove his car on the inside shoulder, causing multiple cars to swerve to avoid being hit.

The dispatcher asked one of the 911 callers if the wrong-way driver had hit any other cars.

"No, but he has come close to a couple," the caller answered.

"There is an SUV that spun out and hit one of the concrete dividers on the overpass. It appeared the passenger was OK, but I'm sure they are totally shaken up," another caller said.

Thigpen did not crash and was eventually pulled over by police and charged with DUI and aggravated fleeing and eluding police. Officers said they found two bottles of vodka in the car. One was empty and one was three-quarters empty.

Other drivers said they could tell something wasn't right.

"He looked zoned out when he was driving. He was doing like 60," one caller said.

"This guy's going like 50 mph. I don't know if he's out of it or something," another caller told the dispatcher.

With Thigpen going the wrong way, many drivers slowed down or moved away from the shoulder that he was on to avoid an accident.

"He was on the inside shoulder. I'm not sure how he got to the inside shoulder of that road but it seems very dangerous," one caller said. "I mean, I've got a 16-month-old kid in the back of my car. If he hit me going head on and he died, I would be destroyed."

According to court records, Thigpen pleaded guilty late last month to the two charges against him, including DUI. He was sentenced to 13 months in jail and must serve two years' probation after that. His license will also be suspended for the rest of his life.