DUI freeway fatalities and arrests down countrywide, but up statewide

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Freeway fatalities and arrests for suspicion of drunken driving for the New Year’s holiday so far were down countywide compared to last year, but both categories were up statewide, according to the California Highway Patrol.

For the 12-hour period from 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve to 6 a.m. New Year’s Day, there were 16 arrests made in San Diego County for suspicion of drunken driving compared with 20 arrests made last year. There were no fatalities reported for the same time interval in San Diego, compared with one fatality reported last year.

Statewide, a total of 329 arrests were made for suspicion of drunken driving this year compared with 309 arrests made for the same period last year. Deaths were also up statewide, with seven fatalities reported this year compared with five the last.

Arrest numbers for suspicion of drunken driving were only those made by CHP officers. Fatalities reported were for all law enforcement agencies.

The CHP investigates all crashes on freeways and on all roads in unincorporated areas.