For further information please contact: Sgt. Jason M. Pace
(417) 895-6868
May 30, 2012
D172012
EMPHASIS: Troop D -- Results Of Memorial Day Holiday Totals & Driving While Intoxicated Saturations

Captain Juan Villanueva, commanding officer of Troop D, Springfield, announces the 2012 Memorial Day weekend traffic crash and driving while intoxicated saturation totals for the Troop D area, which includes 18 counties in Southwest Missouri. During the holiday weekend, troopers participated in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort), and also conducted a 20-Mile Trooper Operation on Interstate 44 on Friday, May 25, 2012, and Monday, May 28, 2012.

During the 2012 Memorial Day weekend traffic crash counting period, which began at 6 p.m., Friday, May 25, 2012, and ended at 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 28, 2012, Troop D officers investigated 36 traffic crashes, resulting in 10 injuries and two fatalities. In addition, troopers worked five boating accidents. Also, troopers made 30 arrests for driving while intoxicated and six arrests for boating while intoxicated.

Additionally, on May 25 and 26, 2012, Troop D officers participated in three driving while intoxicated saturations which focused their enforcement efforts on the high risk areas and roads in McDonald and Dallas counties, where a large number of traffic crashes are reported. The goal of these enforcement operations was to heighten the awareness of the risks associated with drunk/impaired driving within these counties. As a result, officers made 56 arrests and issued 84 warnings. The following is a list of enforcement contacts made during these saturations:

5 -- Driving While Intoxicated arrests
14 -- Speed summonses
1 -- Careless and imprudent driving summons
20 -- Seat belt summonses
1 -- Child restraint summons
4 -- Other hazardous moving summonses
5 -- Non-moving summonses
3 -- Driver's license summonses
1 -- Insurance violation summons
2 -- Misdemeanor warrant arrests
Captain Villanueva stated, “It’s unfortunate that seven people perished statewide on Missouri highways over the Memorial Day weekend. People need to understand that drinking while driving, speeding, not paying attention to the job of driving, and not wearing seat belts are not only dangerous, but deadly.”

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