DUI-related deaths increase on Big Isle
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
HILO, Hawai'i — The number of Big Island traffic deaths caused by motorists under the influence of drugs or alcohol has soared this year, and Big Island police say they aren't sure why.
Statistics released by police yesterday showed that drivers in at least 18 of the 28 fatal crashes on the Big Island through the end of October had been using drugs, alcohol or both.
A total of 24 people died in those alcohol- or drug-related collisions, which amounts to two-thirds of the 36 people who died in all Big Island crashes through the end of October.
A police spokesman said even those alarming statistics understate the true number of alcohol- and drug-related fatalities over the past 10 months because laboratory tests are still pending in a number of the most recent crashes. The statistics released by police yesterday did not show drug or alcohol test results for eight of the 28 fatal crashes.
The statistics do show that at least 64 percent of the fatal crashes on the Big Island thus far this year involved drugs or alcohol. That is a big increase from last year, when 23 percent of all fatal crashes were drug- or alcohol-related.
"It's a sad comment that nearly two-thirds of the traffic fatalities could have been avoided by simply refusing to get behind the wheel when you are drunk or high on drugs," said Big Island Police Chief Lawrence K. Mahuna. "Even in these fatal crashes, many of the lives lost probably could have been saved by merely wearing a seat belt."
That official county traffic death tally does not include four separate vehicle accidents on the Big Island that caused four more deaths. Those crashes are not included in county statistics because they occurred on private roads or private property, but in two of those cases police said the drivers had been using ice.
Big Island police are planning to join other counties in a state-financed effort to conduct at least one drunken driving checkpoint each week during the year ahead. The checkpoints act as a deterrent to people who otherwise might drive while intoxicated, and help to take intoxicated motorists off the road, said police Lt. Randy Apele.
The effort, called the "Fifty-Two-Twelve Campaign," is being paid for by the state Department of Transportation, and will run through next September. The sobriety checkpoints will be accompanied by public service announcements to discourage drunken driving. "It has been our strategy to address the three factors of impaired driving, speeding and seatbelt use," Apele said.
Police statistics released yesterday indicated speed was a factor in 15 of the fatal crashes this year. Of those 15 speed-related crashes, 11 also involved alcohol or drugs, police said.
In 11 of this year's fatal crashes, one or more of the people who died were not wearing seat belts.
Apele said he cannot explain the statistics showing a sharp increase in drug-and alcohol-related fatalities this year.
Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 935-3916.
