Police begin ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign
“Drive sober or get pulled over.”
That’s the warning coming from the Brown County Traffic Safety Partnership as it gears up to participate in an end-of-summer impaired driving enforcement campaign. Starting this weekend through Labor Day, officers will increase patrols designed to target those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
“We’re asking everyone to have a plan in place if they know they’ll be drinking,” Sheriff Scott Southerland said in a press release. “Our goal isn’t to take people to jail. It’s to make people think about the choices they’re making and the consequences before they get behind the wheel so that we can prevent a needless tragedy.”
Alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities have increased over the past few years, as have other dangerous driving behaviors, fueling a nationwide surge in roadway deaths.
“It’s an unfortunate trend that doesn’t appear to be slowing,” the press release states.
In Indiana, traffic fatalities increased by more than 20% during that time compared to 2021. If the pace continues, 2022 could be the third straight year with more fatalities, following 897 in 2020 and 931 in 2021.
According to the press release, research indicates drug prevalence has been on the rise among drivers during the pandemic. Last year, the number of blood samples submitted to the Indiana Department of Toxicology for drug analysis after a crash increased by 7%.
Driving under the influence, whether it’s drugs or alcohol, is illegal in Indiana. The average drunk driving arrest costs up to $10,000.
With officers showing zero tolerance throughout the campaign, the sheriff’s department recommends celebrating the end of summer responsibly by having a safety plan in place. Even if it’s only one drink, designate a sober driver or use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely. Never drive impaired or let friends get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.
Driver injured in crash after falling asleep
JACKSON TWP. — A 22-year-old Brown County man was injured after reportedly falling asleep while driving and overturning his vehicle.
Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Austin Schonfeld responded to the intersection of Three Story Hill and Oak Ridge roads for a single-vehicle crash on Aug. 13 around 12:30 a.m., according to an accident report.
Dispatch advised the father of the driver had already transported the driver — later identified as Tristan Richards — to the hospital for further treatment of his injuries.
Deputy Kyle Minor later made contact with Richards at the hospital.
Upon arrival at the scene, Schonfeld reported Richards’ vehicle had “significant damage.” Family members of Richards had also arrived on scene and were cleaning it up. They told Schonfeld that Richards had went to their house after the crash and they provided initial care to scratches and bruising.
Richards told Minor he had fallen asleep at the wheel, which caused him to go off the road where the embankment had been cleared. The vehicle flipped before resting on top of a tree stump.
Richards was offered a breath test and blew 0.000.
The vehicle was towed from the scene.
