HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Seventeen people were killed and 348 others were injured in the 1,101 crashes investigated by Pennsylvania State Police during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday driving period, Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski announced today.

Pawlowski said 79 of the crashes to which troopers responded from Nov. 24-28 were alcohol-related, including six crashes involving one or more fatalities.  Pawlowski noted that 11 of those who died were not wearing seat belts.

Pawlowski said that troopers made 412 arrests for driving under the influence and issued 7,412 speeding citations during the holiday period. State police also cited 922 persons for failure to wear seat belts and issued citations to 72 drivers for failing to restrain children properly in child safety seats.

During last year's Thanksgiving holiday driving period, three people were killed and 303 others were injured in 886 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: Jack J. Lewis, 717-783-5556

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police Department

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