Nearly 1 Out of 3 Deadly MO Wrecks Alcohol Related
By: Gretchen Bolander
Updated: June 15, 2012
JOPLIN, MO-- Drunk driving contributes to nearly one out of three Missouri traffic deaths. State numbers show nearly 30% of fatal accidents involve alcohol. In 2011, 220 were killed while another 916 were injured. While numbers are lower in Joplin - three died last year - still, drunk driving isn't rare. Joplin alone saw 669 arrests last year for drivers either drunk or under the influence of drugs.
Sgt. Rusty Rives with the Joplin Police Department said, "That number is down this year down some. Our hope is it has to do with a good deterrence effort, a good safety campaign, awareness campaign. And I know a lot of our guys have talked about stopping a lot of drivers that have designated drivers which is what we're shooting for."
Joplin police will try to drive home that message with a D.W.I. checkpoint. That will be held sometime between Friday and Sunday.
