No highway traffic fatalities have been reported in Orange County so far this Memorial Day weekend, traditionally the busiest travel weekend of the year, according to the California Highway Patrol.
However, one was reported in Los Angeles County.
The CHP said seven traffic deaths – four without seat belts – were reported statewide in the first 12 hours of the weekend reporting period from 6 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday That’s one more than last year for the same period statewide.
Drunk driving arrests by the CHP were down significantly in Orange County compared with last year, as well as statewide, according to Public Information Officer Mary Bailey.
There were 10 drunk driving arrests in the county by the CHP in the first 12 hours of the weekend this year, compared with 16 during the same time last year. The statewide figures for this year were 281 arrests compared with 320 for the same period last year.
Of the seven fatalities statewide, four of the victims were not wearing a seatbelt, according to the CHP.
—City News Service