Crash fatalities double in Illinois State Police District 9          

Logan County second in district for fatalities

'Fatal five' violations identified: speeding, not wearing safety belts, improper lane usage, following too closely and driving under the influence

[June 30, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois State Police District 9 Captain James Wolf announced that District 9 fatalities for 2007 have climbed significantly in comparison with 2006 fatality stats.

"Although the number of fatalities on Illinois roadways has been on the decline in recent years, District 9 has seen a sharp increase in the number of fatalities in 2007," said Wolf. "Many of those killed this year were not wearing their seat belts. I cannot say they would be alive today if they had been buckled in, but I can say they did not stand a chance being unbuckled."

From January 2006 to June 24, 2006, District 9 had 12 crashes and 13 fatalities. In 2007 there have been 24 crashes and 24 fatalities, double the number of crashes and a 79 percent increase in the number of fatalities from 2006. In 11 of the 24 fatal crashes the vehicles rolled over and the occupants were ejected. Thirteen of the 24 individuals involved in the fatal crashes were not wearing their safety belts (61.9 percent of all fatal crashes). Ten of the 24 fatal crashes involved alcohol (41.7 percent of all fatal crashes).

District 9 encompasses seven counties: Cass, Christian, Logan, Mason, Menard, Morgan and Sangamon.

Number of fatalities per county in 2007:

County	Fatalities	% increase
Cass	2	8.3%
Christian	3	12.5%
Logan	4	16.7%
Mason	1	4.2%
Menard	0	0.0%
Morgan	2	8.3%
Sangamon	12	50.0%

The Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation have begun an aggressive $1 million enforcement and education effort aimed at keeping impaired drivers off the roads. The campaign began June 25 and will continue through July 8. The Illinois State Police, county and local agencies will conduct 230 roadside safety checks throughout the state. The goal is to locate and arrest drunk drivers. This will be in conjunction with the Combined Accident Reduction Effort, which will begin July 3 and continue through July 8.

The simplest thing drivers can do to help save lives is buckle their safety belts. Driving under the influence is not a mistake -- it is a choice each person makes.

Make the choice not to drive under the influence. The Illinois State Police will remain committed to aggressively enforcing occupant restraint and "fatal five" violations: speeding, not wearing safety belts, improper lane usage, following too closely and driving under the influence.

[Illinois State Police District 9 news release]