Preliminary Post-Thanksgiving Holiday Period Statistics

This reported fatality statistic may change if other information is reported later by Oregon law enforcement agencies.

File photo: Oregon State Police

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Preliminary information indicates the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday period fatalities matched the lowest recorded level since 1978 as one person is reported to have died in a traffic-related crash on Oregon highways.

The reported single death matches the lowest recorded number in 1978 and is the lowest figure for this major holiday period according to ODOT's Crash Analysis and Reporting Unit.

The one reported death happened Friday night, November 27th, at 8:20 p.m. when a 60-year old Milwaukie woman died after being struck by a van while trying to cross McGloughlin Boulevard (Highway 99E) on foot in a Gladstone-area non-crosswalk location. Oregon State Police troopers are continuing the investigation into that incident. Other preliminary information indicates OSP troopers arrested 53 DUII drivers, matching last year's holiday period total. The OSP Springfield Area Command office reported the highest number with 13 DUII arrests followed by the Portland Area Command office with 10 DUII arrests. The OSP Salem Area Command and The Dalles Area Command offices both reported 5 DUII arrests.

OSP troopers also reported:
* Over 5,400 traffic contacts
* Over 1,200 speed-related citations issued
* Assisting 465 disabled motorists
* Responding to more than 135 traffic crashes

An example of one of the successful enhanced enforcement efforts was reported by OSP Coos Bay Lieutenant Steve Smartt with the arrest of 4 DUII drivers, issuance of over 200 citations for moving violations, and only one minor, non-injury crash responded to by troopers in their patrol area.

"Several positive public comments were received about the high visibility enforcement efforts during the busy holiday period," Smartt said.

(Note: This reported fatality statistic may change if other information is reported later by Oregon law enforcement agencies. This year's Thanksgiving holiday reporting period started 6:00 p.m., November 25th, and concluded at 11:59 p.m., November 29th. This is the confirmed reported number at this time for the 102-hour holiday period, the longest major holiday period of the year.)

Source: Oregon State Police