MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of Oct 25-31, Big Island police arrested 21 motorists for drunken driving. Five of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes.

So far this year, there have been 1,208 DUI arrests compared with 1,154 during the same period last year, an increase of 10.9 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

There have been 1,145 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,313 during the same period last year, a decrease of 12.8 percent.

So far this year, there were 23 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 20 during the same period last year, an increase of 15 percent.

To date, 20 fatalities this year were related to drugs (11), alcohol (10) or a combination of both (6 of the 20).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide.