FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 4, 2001

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

HIGHWAY PATROL TEAMS UP WITH LEXINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE FOR TOUGHER ENFORCEMENT

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Highway Patrol is combining enforcement efforts with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office to reduce the climbing fatality rate in Lexington County. Seventeen people have died in the county through May, compared to 13 at this time last year.

"The fatality numbers in Lexington County have been disproportionately high compared to other counties in the district for some time now," said District 1 Capt. Russell Roark. "We are concerned, and we are focusing our enforcement resources toward this area until we see the number of collisions and fatalities begin to decline."

The causes of the crashes vary from aggressive driving, driving under the influence, inattention, speed, to not wearing a seat belt. The Highway Patrol plans to use the District One Operation STOP team exclusively in high crash areas in Lexington County for the next nine weeks, including the Swansea, Batesburg-Leesville area, U.S. 378 and the Lake Murray area.

Two deputies from the Lexington County traffic division will be assigned to work with the STOP team, focusing primarily on aggressive driving.

"We’re pleased to be able to work with the Highway Patrol on a special enforcement effort to reduce the number of fatalities and collisions in Lexington County," Sheriff James Metts said. "We believe we can make roads safer for motorists who obey traffic laws."

Memorial Day weekend begins the 100 deadly of summer when highway traffic fatalities and collisions tend to be at their peak. Between May and August last year, 21 people died in Lexington County collisions.

In 1999, there were 39 total fatalities in Lexington County; that number climbed to 51 in 2000.

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