Fewer fatal accidents in Los Angeles over Memorial Day Weekend
In Los Angeles County, the number of fatal accidents and driving under the influence arrests that occurred over Memorial Day Weekend in 2012 mark a decrease from the same time period in 2011, according to a report issued by the California Highway Patrol that accounts for the first 60 hours of the 72 hour three day weekend period. One fatal accident occurred on Los Angeles County roadways in 2012, an approximate 66 percent reduction from the three fatal accidents that occurred over Memorial Day Weekend in 2011. Throughout the state of California, a similar trend was noted, with 11 traffic related fatalities over Memorial Day Weekend in 2012, down from the 13 fatal accidents that occurred during the same span of time in 2011. The accident occurred on Harbor Freeway (Highway 110) near down town Los Angeles at around 4 a.m. on Monday morning. The California Highway Patrol’s report encompasses the time between 6:01 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. the following Memorial Day Monday. During this time frame, California Highway Patrol made 258 arrests of motorists suspected of driving under the influence, 40 less arrests than the 298 DUI charges filed for the same period of time in 2011. Throughout the state, California Highway Patrol over Memorial Day Weekend last year. California Highway Patrol officers in Orange County, however, reported a reversal of this trend, noting 60 DUI arrests for the weekend in 2012, a 20 percent increase from the 50 drunken driving arrests made during Memorial Weekend of 2011.
