OSP: Fewer traffic deaths, DUII arrests over holiday

Preliminary information released Monday indicates fewer traffic fatalities and DUII arrests made by Oregon State Police troopers during the 2012 Thanksgiving holiday reporting period between 6:00 p.m. Nov. 21 and 11:59 p.m. Nov. 25 .

To date, the following two fatal traffic crashes, both occurring on Thanksgiving , have been reported to ODOT’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System:

* On Thursday, November 22 , at approximately 3:40 a.m., a 44-year old Elgin man died in a single vehicle traffic crash at the intersection of Highway 204 and Summerville Road west of Elgin. OSP is continuing the investigation.

* On Thursday, November 22, at approximately 6:25 p.m., a 29-year old southeast Portland man died after he was struck by a vehicle while trying to cross SE 82nd Avenue (Highway 213) on foot. The man’s name and additional information are dye to be released later Monday. OSP is continuing the investigation.

Three people died during each of the 2011 and 2010 Thanksgiving holiday reporting periods in Oregon traffic crashes. Since 1970, about 240 people have died on Oregon roads during this holiday period.

OSP troopers reported a decrease in the number of DUII arrests compared with the total reported last year during the Thanksgiving holiday period. This year, troopers reported 47 DUII arrests (including 12 on Saturday ), down from 72 DUII arrests reported during last year’s holiday reporting period. OSP troopers reported 47 holiday period DUII arrests in 2010 and 53 DUII arrests in 2009.

Oregon State Police offices reporting 3 or more DUII arrests were:

* Bend Area Command office – 8 DUII arrests
* Portland Area Command office – 6 DUII arrests
* Springfield Area Command office – 6 DUII arrests
* Central Point Area Command – 5 DUII arrests
* North Plains Work Site – 5 DUII arrests