Police said an intoxicated wrong-way driver crashed his vehicle Sunday on Chicago’s North Side, assaulted another driver and then coughed in the face of arresting officers and told them he had been infected with COVID-19.

Police said they responded to a report of a wreck involving a wrong-way driver at about 8 a.m. Sunday in the 7400 block of North Wolcott Avenue. The driver, identified as Anthony Ponzi, 21, allegedly drove his Jeep into oncoming traffic, striking another vehicle.

Authorities said Ponzi attacked the driver of the other vehicle. When officers arrived on scene, Ponzi allegedly appeared aggressive and showed multiple signs of intoxication.

Investigators attempted to speak with Ponzi, but he coughed in their faces and told them he was infected with COVID-19, according to authorities. COVID-19 is a novel form of coronavirus that has spread rapidly across the globe, reaching pandemic proportions.

The virus has prompted Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to order the state’s residents to “shelter in place,” leaving their homes only for essential needs or to go to work at businesses deemed critical. More than 300,000 people have been sickened worldwide.

Ponzi was arrested and taken to a nearby hospital, where he reportedly said he had not actually tested positive for the virus.

Disclaimer: The Accident News article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.

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