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(964) (398) (204) (5) (2) (2)Lancaster's Troop J, which covers Lancaster County and some of Chester County, reported it investigated 54 crashes this New Year's travel period compared with 68 wrecks during the same period last year.
Seven of the crashes were alcohol-related, and DUI arrests rose from 12 during the period last year to 25 this year.
There were no fatal crashes in this year's period, and injuries dropped by four to 17 compared to last year. Troop J investigated one fatal crash last season when one person was killed.
Overall, citations given by Troop J were up 52 percent, rising from 170 a year ago to 259 this year. Speeding citations were up 30 percent to 156.
Across the state, seven people were killed in crashes investigated by state police during the New Year's travel period.
Four of the fatal crashes were alcohol-related.
"Too many lives are lost because people drive after they've been drinking," state police Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski said. "If you consume alcohol, please make sure you have a designated driver who has not been drinking. Otherwise, don't get behind the wheel."
Pawlowski said 278 people were injured in the 984 crashes to which troopers responded during the holiday driving period. Five of those killed were not wearing seat belts, and 97 of the crashes were alcohol-related.
During the holiday travel period, troopers statewide issued 4,512 speeding citations, arrested 312 people for driving under the influence, cited 368 individuals for not wearing seat belts and issued citations to 37 people for failing to secure children properly in safety seats.
The report does not include statistics on incidents that were handled by other law-enforcement agencies in the state.
During last year's five-day holiday driving period, eight people were killed and 334 others were injured in 1,250 crashes statewide to which state police responded.
E-mail: pburns@lnpnews.com
