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| Alcohol-related Crash Reminder of what New Year's Holiday Patrols are Trying to Prevent | ||
| 12/29/2006 | ||
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Lieutenant Gregg Hastings Public Information Officer Office: (503) 731-3020 ext. 247 Photograph links and information valid for 30 days Source: Marion County Sheriff's Office http://www.flashnews.net/images/news/rivera-hernandez.jpg Source: NHTSA http://www.flashnews.net/images/news/Stupid-Hat-Final.jpg http://www.flashnews.net/images/news/OvertheLimitUnderArrest.FactSheet.doc An early Friday morning alcohol-related injury crash east of Salem is an example of what Oregon law enforcement agencies will be trying to prevent through increased enforcement efforts this New Year's holiday weekend. On December 29, 2006 shortly after midnight, Oregon State Police (OSP) Northern Command Center dispatch received a call reporting a car was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Highway 22E east from Salem at a high rate of speed. The report also indicated the car had spun out, struck a tree but then continued eastbound. As two OSP troopers were responding to the highway, a Marion County Sheriff's Office deputy and Stayton police officer got into position on the eastbound side of the divided highway and spotted the car, a 1994 Chrysler. Both officers drove parallel to the car with their overhead lights and sirens activated in an attempt to get the driver's attention to stop, but the driver failed to respond. At 12:20 a.m. near milepost 10, the car crashed head-on with a westbound Ford Focus. Both vehicles reportedly were heavily damaged. The driver of the Ford Focus, GLEN ALLEN BURNETT, age 22, from Salem, received minor injuries. Information related to transportation to an area hospital for treatment is not currently available. The driver of the Chrysler, ARMANDO RIVERA HERNANDEZ, age 24, from northeast Salem, was not injured. OSP Senior Trooper Doug Brown conducted the investigation and took RIVERA HERNANDEZ into custody for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII), Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and Assault in the Fourth Degree. He was also cited for Possession of an Open Container of Alcohol and No Operators License. RIVERA HERNANDEZ was lodged in Marion County Jail. No crash scene photographs are available at this time. Photograph of RIVERA HERNANDEZ provided courtesy of Marion County Sheriff's Office. OSP, county and city police agencies around Oregon will be joining others throughout the country cracking down on intoxicated drivers this News Years weekend (6:00 p.m., Friday, December 29th, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, January 1st). Overtime grant funds provided through ODOT will be used by many agencies to put additional OSP troopers and local officers out during the holiday weekend to locate and arrest intoxicated and other dangerous drivers. During last year's New Years holiday weekend, OSP troopers arrested 88 DUII drivers. Nearly half (41) of those arrested occurred after midnight on January 1st. According to ODOT, alcohol has been a factor in 41 percent of Oregon traffic deaths around the New Year's and Christmas holiday periods during the last ten years. Six people died in 5 separate traffic crashes during last year's 78-hour New Year's holiday period (6:00 p.m., December 30th, through 11:59 p.m., January 2nd). For those who may mix holiday celebrations with alcohol, OSP and ODOT recommend the following tips to help make your journey safer:
Media ridealong requests should be directed to your local OSP office or local agency. For more information about the national effort to battle impaired driving, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.Org. ### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
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