| The Illinois State Police (ISP) announced today that 19 persons lost their lives as a result of 18 fatal crashes on Illinois roadways during the July 3 – 8 holiday weekend this year. This compares to the five-day reporting period in 2006 when 23 people lost their lives in fatal accidents.
The Illinois State Police issued nearly 17,650 citations and written warnings over the six-day period. In addition, Troopers made 160 DUI arrests and provided assistance to more than 2,100 motorists. In the four fatal crashes handled by the state police, none of the four people killed was wearing their safety belt.
The ISP participated in several enforcement initiatives aimed to arrest impaired drivers and reduce fatalities during the July 4th weekend including roadside safety checks, underage drinking enforcement details, and saturation patrols focusing on safety belt and speed enforcement. The ISP and Illinois Department of Transportation combined for an aggressive enforcement and education campaign to remind motorists to buckle up and keep impaired drivers off the road. |
