Ohio State Highway Patrol
COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 14 deaths on Ohio roadways over the 2017 Memorial Day weekend, including one in Pickaway County as the weekend began.
In 2016, 15 fatalities occurred, and 16 occurred in 2015. One of this year’s fatalities was a motorcyclist, and seven were pedestrians. The four-day reporting period began Friday, May 26, and ran through Monday, May 29.
The Patrol made 33,548 enforcement contacts in total. These contacts resulted in 801 OVI arrests, an increase of 8 percent from 2016; 554 drug arrests, an increase of 26 percent from 2016; and 7,846 safety belt citations, an increase of 9 percent from 2016.
“We take enforcing traffic laws seriously, and troopers were highly visible this weekend to respond to the heavy Memorial Day traffic,” said Colonel Paul A. Pride, Patrol superintendent. “We thank everyone who slowed down, buckled up and designated sober drivers this weekend. We ask that you do the same every time you get behind the wheel.”
In addition, the Patrol made 17,541 non-enforcement contacts to assist motorists.
For a complete breakdown and map of Patrol activity please visit http://www.statepatrol.ohio.gov/doc/MemorialDay2017.pdf
In addition, the Ohio State Highway Patrol made 9,533 seat belt citations in a joint effort with other members of the 6-State Trooper Project in an initiative from Monday, May 22 to Monday, May 29. The 6-State Trooper Project includes the Indiana State Police, Kentucky State Police, Michigan State Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Pennsylvania State Police and the West Virginia State Police.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
