James McGillicuddy was arrested in Canterbury early Sunday morning on DUI and reckless conduct charges after driving the wrong way on I-93, abandoning his vehicle and fleeing into the wooded center median. Credit: New Hampshire State Police

A Massachusetts man is being held in preventative detention after he drove the wrong way on Interstate 93 South, abandoned his car on the shoulder and ran through the wooded center median in Canterbury early Sunday morning.

At 12:16 a.m. on Sunday, New Hampshire State Police began receiving reports of a wrong-way driver on I-93 in Northfield. When troopers responded to the area, they located a silver 2016 Subaru Crosstrek pulled over to the left shoulder by mile marker 50.6 in Canterbury.

The vehicle was empty and facing the wrong direction, according to State Police.

During their investigation, troopers located the vehicle’s driver and sole occupant, James McGillicuddy of Medford, Mass., in the median wood line.

Troopers determined McGillicuddy had pulled over because he’d run out of gas. A laceration above McGillicuddy’s right eye indicated he’d fallen while running through the woods, but he declined medical attention.

McGillicuddy was arrested and charged with a DUI and reckless conduct. He is being held in Merrimack County Jail until his arraignment in Concord District Court on Monday.

Rebeca Pereira is the news editor at the Concord Monitor. She reports on farming, food insecurity, animal welfare and the towns of Canterbury, Tilton and Northfield. Reach her at rpereira@cmonitor.com