MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
a division of the
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Troop D Headquarters, 3131 East Kearney Street, Springfield, Missouri 65803


News Release

For further information please contact: Sergeant Jason M. Pace
417-895-6868
D152015
May 26, 2015

EMPHASIS: Results Of Memorial Holiday Weekend And DWI Sobriety Checkpoint In Troop D


Captain Juan Villanueva, commanding officer of Troop D, Springfield, announces the 2015 Memorial Day weekend traffic crash and driving while intoxicated checkpoint 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 designated highways on Friday, May 22, 2015, and Monday, May 25, 2015.

During the 2015 Memorial Day weekend traffic crash counting period, which began at 6 p.m., Friday, May 22, 2015, and ended at 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 25, 2015, Troop D officers investigated 47 traffic crashes, resulting in 22 injuries and two fatalities. Additionally, troopers worked no boating crashes. Also, troopers made 19 arrests for driving while intoxicated. Statewide, the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated 298 traffic crashes which included 98 injuries and five of the fatalities. The Fulton Police Department investigated the remaining fatality. Troopers also arrested 105 people for driving while intoxicated.

Additionally, a DWI checkpoint was conducted in Newton County, on Saturday, May 23, 2015. During the operation, troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol were assigned to conduct a sobriety checkpoint in a continued effort to remove impaired drivers from the highways and a total of 330 vehicles were stopped. The following is a list of enforcement contacts made during the operation:

3--Driving While Intoxicated Arrests
6--Failure To Wear Seat Belt Summonses
4--Driver License Violations
1--Non-Moving Offense
2--Other Hazardous Moving Traffic Offenses
2--Misdemeanor Warrant Arrests

Officers also issued 33 warnings for various other traffic violations during the operation.

Captain Villanueva stated, “It’s unfortunate that six people perished statewide on Missouri highways over the Memorial Day weekend. People need to understand that drinking while driving, speeding, distracted driving, and not wearing seat belts are not only dangerous, but deadly.”

Approximately 63 percent of Missouri fatal crash victims who are required to be restrained are NOT at the time of the traffic crash. The Patrol urges motorists to protect themselves and their passengers by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Join us in supporting the Drive To Zero Highway Deaths. Watercraft operators should ensure that everyone in the vessel is wearing an approved life jacket. Click It 4 Life And Wear It!!

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