Number of Fayette DUI-related crashes fall
While the number of driving under the influence arrests and crashes investigated by state police increased statewide from 2001 to 2002, the numbers declined locally. Overall, state police DUI arrests increased 2 percent from 11,396 in 2001 to 11,687 in 2002, police said.
DUI related crashes rose 6 percent from 3,969 in 2001 to 4,222 in 2002.
State police in Uniontown arrested 344 people for DUI in 2002 down 32 from 376 arrests in 2001.
They investigated 80 DUI-related crashes in 2002 down 14 from 94 in 2001.
Lt. Charles Depp, commander of the Uniontown station, said the crash statistics are more noteworthy than that arrest figures.
“The number of arrests depends on the number of officers dedicated to enforcement,” Depp said. “Statistically, crashes are more important.”
The number crashes is a more direct reflection of the number of people who drink and drive, he said.
Depp said he believes awareness and educational programs conducted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and police as well as designated drivers are helping to reduce DUI crashes locally.
“I hope the decrease continues, Depp said. “Hopefully, people are smartening up.”
Statewide In 2001, troopers made 11,396 DUI arrests and investigated 3,969 DUI-related crashes.
The numbers were down from 2000, when troopers recorded 12,176 DUI arrests and investigated 4,120 DUI-related crashes.
The state recorded a record 12,407 DUI arrests made in 1998. The numbers of DUI-related crashes in 2002 were the highest since 1996, but numbers before that were unavailable.
State Police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller said he had mixed feelings about the numbers.
“Many motorists have gotten the message that drinking and driving can be a fatal mistake,” Miller said. “But our numbers clearly show that thousands of Pennsylvanians still get behind the wheel when they are intoxicated.”
Two other local stations reported decreases in DUI arrests last year.
The Waynesburg station reported 193 arrests last year down 60 from 257 arrests in 2001. The number of crashes fell from 65 in 2001 to 50 last year.
The Washington station reported 372 arrests in 2002 down 45 from 417 arrests in 2001. It reported 93 crashes last year and 110 in 2001.
One local station had an increase in DUI arrests. Belle Vernon reported 287 arrests in 2002 up 41 from 246 arrests in 2001. DUI crashes fell, though, from 66 in 2001 to 58 in 2002.
Trooper John E. Pash of the Uniontown station was listed among the top 14 troopers in the state with 57 DUI arrests in 2002. A trooper in the Meadville station topped the list with 81.
Trooper Jeffrey L. Wirth of Belle Vernon had 75; Trooper Robert Wetzel of Washington had 58 and Trooper David J. Hamer of Belle Vernon had 54.