‘Make the safe choice,’ Prineville police urge after seven DUII arrests in four days over Presidents Day weekend

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- From Friday through Monday of Presidents Day weekend, Prineville Police Department officers made seven DUII arrests in the city, officials said Wednesday.

"That’s seven situations where someone chose to drive impaired and seven times where a life could have been changed forever," the department said in a Facebook post.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 30% of traffic crash fatalities involve alcohol or drugs, the department said.

"Those aren’t just statistics," police said. "Those are families, friends and neighbors. A DUII is preventable. A tragedy is preventable."

"Prineville is a small community, and we care about every person on our roads," the post stated. "We serve this community because we care deeply about the people in it. Please help us protect Prineville by making the safe choice before you ever turn the key."

"Someone is waiting for you at home. And someone else is waiting for the person you might meet on the road.