OHIO, USA — The Ohio State Highway Patrol has released provisional statistics from a Thanksgiving holiday reporting period, in which authorities efforted an increased focus on preventing distracted and impaired driving across the state.
The special reporting period began on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at midnight and ran through Sunday, Nov. 26 at 11:59 p.m. During that period, seven fatal crashes resulted in eight fatalities, the fewest deaths since 2018. Of the eight fatalities, one involved a vehicle occupant not wearing a safety belt, while another involved impaired driving.
Additionally, troopers arrested 319 people for impaired driving and 111 for illegal drugs. Troopers also issued 526 citations for not using safety belts, and 181 citations for distracted driving violations. Troopers also reported assisting 1,567 motorists during the holiday period.
In 2022 during the same five-day span, 19 people were killed in crashes on Ohio roads and 278 people were arrested for impaired driving. According to OSHP Sgt. Ryan Purpura, 12 of the 18 deadly crashes involved drug and alcohol use.
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