Police Release Preliminary Post-New Year's Holiday Statistics‏

Oregon State Police troopers noted five fatal crashes and 85 DUII drivers arrests during this year's holiday period,

Salem-News.com

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Preliminary information gathered by Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Transportation, reflect an increase in fatalities during the 102-hour New Year's holiday period between 6:00 PM, Wednesday, December 31st, 2008, and 11:59 PM, Sunday, January 4th, 2009.

ODOT's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) reports information received from Oregon law enforcement agencies indicates 7 people were killed in five separate fatal crashes.

This was an increase in last year's holiday period when five people died in four separate crashes. During the 2007 holiday period there were four reported fatalities.

Slick roadway conditions were a contributing factor in four of the five fatal traffic crashes, records indicate. Driver impairment is a noted contributing factor in one of the crashes.

The following is a brief review of this year's fatal traffic crashes known to have occurred during the above mentioned New Year holiday period:

* On January 1st at approximately 9:32 PM a 27-year old Bend man died in a single vehicle traffic crash on NE Purcell and Highway 20. Bend Police Department is the lead investigating agency and driver impairment was also a noted contributing factor.

* On January 2nd at approximately 7:35 AM a 16-year old Redmond girl died in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 97 north of Bend near milepost 127. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency.

* On January 2nd at approximately 1:00 PM a 31-year old Salem man died in a two-vehicle crash on Silverton Road near 64th Place. Marion County Sheriff's Office is the lead investigation agency.

* On January 2nd at approximately 8:42 PM three females ages 24, 16, and 13 from the Parkdale-area died in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 35 south of Hood River near milepost 100. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency.

* On January 3rd at approximately 2:49 PM one person died in a four-vehicle crash on Highway 38 east of Scottsburg near milepost 20. The victim has not been positively identified by the medical examiner. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency.

Preliminary reports from Oregon State Police troopers noted 85 DUII drivers arrested during this year's holiday period, down from last year's reported 98 DUII arrests. OSP offices reporting the highest DUII arrests statistics were:

* Portland Area Command Office – 12 DUII arrests

* Springfield Area Command Office – 10 DUII arrests

* Central Point Area Command Office – 8 DUII arrests

* Salem Area Command Office – 8 DUII arrests

* Coos Bay Area Command Office – 7 DUII arrests

Extra OSP troopers were out on area highways using overtime grant funding provided by ODOT to target impaired drivers. One trooper, Senior Trooper Jo Gardiner out of the Coos Bay Area Command office, arrested 4 DUII drivers during an 8 hour overtime shift including one driver who had a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .25 percent.