11 Killed, 220 Injured in New Year's Holiday Crashes Investigated by Pennsylvania State Police

Fatalities Increase Compared to Last Year, But Crashes and Injuries Decline

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 3, 2011, PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eleven people were killed and 220 others were injured in the 693 crashes investigated by Pennsylvania State Police during the four-day New Year's holiday driving period, Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski announced today.

"Although the number of fatalities jumped from six to 11 compared to last year's holiday driving period, crashes decreased by nearly 39 percent and the number of people injured dropped almost 24 percent," Pawlowski said.

He said 76 of the crashes to which troopers responded from Dec. 30, 2010, through Jan. 2, 2011, were alcohol-related, including four crashes that resulted in a total of five deaths. Six of the 11 people who died in crashes were not wearing seat belts, he said.

Pawlowski said troopers made 267 arrests for driving under the influence and issued 4,012 speeding citations during the holiday period. State police also cited 458 persons for failure to wear seat belts and issued citations to 42 drivers for failing to restrain children properly in child safety seats.

During last year's four-day New Year's holiday driving period, six people were killed and 288 others were injured in 1,131 crashes investigated by state police.

The crash numbers cover only those incidents investigated by state police and do not include statistics on crashes to which other law-enforcement agencies responded.

For more information, visit www.psp.state.pa.us or call 717-783-5556.

Media contact: Lt. Myra Taylor, Jack J. Lewis, 717-783-5556

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police Department

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