21 arrests made so far by MSHP Troop F during Memorial Day counting period
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F have made 21 arrests since MSHP's counting period for Memorial Day weekend began Friday evening.
The counting period is designed to help MSHP track how well the department keeps Missouri Roads safe. For Memorial Day, it lasts from 6 p.m. Friday-11:59 p.m. Monday.
Of the 21 arrests made by Troop F -- which covers much of Mid-Missouri -- 10 were DWI-related. Two of the arrests were related to Boating While Intoxicated. No fatalities have been reported yet and 10 crashes were reported at last check.
Last year for Memorial Day weekend, Troop F reported 29 vehicle crashes with 10 people injured. Troopers made 13 DWI arrests
"We want to try to reduce traffic crashes and the fatalities we have out there," MSHP Cpl. Kyle Green said on Friday. "The number of vehicles that we stopped, DWI arrests that were made, crashes that are worked, and things like that are all counted to see, you know, what kind of progress we were able to make."
During MSHP's counting period last year, the department responded to 1,043 traffic crashes, where 507 people were injured, 13 people died and 131 intoxicated drivers were arrested.
Troopers will be focusing on hazardous moving violations, speed violations, and impaired drivers, as well as participating in Operation C.A.R.E (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) throughout the weekend.
Columbia Resident Tanner Jones said he's seen officers on the highways all weekend.
"I've definitely seen a lot of police on 63 between Jeff City and Columbia," Jones said. "I've seen people pulled over every time I've been driving so far."
Jones and Green are asking people to plan ahead if they are planning on drinking at all.
"It's just important to make sure you have a DD," Jones said. "Make sure anybody that's been drinking isn't driving so that you get home safe."
"Make sure that you've got a driver that isn't impaired on anything," Green said. "Making sure that everybody has their seatbelt on will help ensure that everybody gets to their location in one piece."
