10 Die in Holiday Crashes Investigated by State Police

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 2, 2002; -- State Police Commissioner Paul J. Evanko today reported that 10 people were killed and 521 others were injured in 1,375 crashes investigated by State Police during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday driving period.

Col. Evanko said two of those killed were not wearing seatbelts, and three of the fatalities were alcohol related. Of the total number of crashes, 78 were alcohol related.

During the Thanksgiving driving period, which ran from Wednesday, Nov. 27, through Sunday, Dec. 1, troopers issued 4,568 speeding citations, arrested 255 motorists for driving under the influence, cited 175 for not wearing seatbelts, and issued 13 citations for failing to secure children in safety seats.

State Police once again participated in "Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort)," a national program committed to traffic-crash reduction on interstate highways during holiday weekends.

During the 2001 Thanksgiving holiday driving period, nine people died and 496 were injured in 1,121 crashes investigated by State Police. Troopers issued 4,864 speeding citations and made 213 drunken driving arrests.