Five of the Victims Not Wearing Seatbelts; Four Die in Alcohol-Related Wrecks

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Six people were killed in crashes investigated by Pennsylvania State Police during the four-day New Year's holiday travel period, which ran from Dec. 31 through Jan. 3, Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski announced today.

Five of those killed were not wearing seatbelts and four of the deaths resulted from alcohol-related crashes, he said.

"Too many lives are lost because people drive after they've been drinking or because they do not buckle up when they travel," Pawlowski said.

He said that in addition to the six fatalities, 288 other people were injured in the 1,131 crashes to which troopers responded during the holiday driving period. He said 95 of the crashes were alcohol-related.

During the driving period, troopers issued 2,112 speeding citations; arrested 244 people for driving under the influence; cited 254 individuals for not wearing seatbelts; and issued citations to 21 persons for failing to properly secure children in safety seats.

The report does not include statistics on incidents that were handled by other law enforcement agencies in the state.

During the 2009 New Year's holiday driving period, which covered five days, seven people were killed and 278 others were injured in the 984 crashes to which state police responded.

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

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

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police Department

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