HARRISBURG – Eight persons were killed and 247 others were injured in the 561 crashes investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police during the three-day Easter holiday driving period, Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski said today.
Pawlowski said four of those killed were not wearing seat belts and 58 of the 561 crashes, including three of the fatal crashes, were alcohol-related.
The Easter driving period covered Friday, April 2, through Sunday, April 4. During those three days, state police issued 4,099 speeding citations, charged 340 people with driving under the influence, cited 448 people for not wearing seat belts, and ticketed 36 motorists for not securing children in safety seats.
During the 2009 Easter holiday driving period, which covered April 10-12, 13 people were killed and 167 others were injured in 477 crashes investigated by troopers. Also during that period, state police issued 3,651 speeding citations, charged 266 people with DUI, cited 270 persons for not wearing seat belts, and cited 31 motorists for not securing children in safety seats.
Pawlowski said the statistics cover only those crashes investigated by the state police and do not include incidents to which other law-enforcement agencies responded.
For more information, visitwww.psp.state.pa.us or call 717-783-5556.