TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) – The Lucas County Traffic Safety Program reports that fatal crashes and motor vehicle fatalities have increased in Lucas County in the federal fiscal year of 2012 from Oct. 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012.
Since October 2011, there have been 25 fatal crashes and 26 fatalities, compared to the same time in the previous year when there were 15 fatal crashes and 19 deaths.
Three of the fatalities were motorcyclists: One was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and two were not. Two of the fatalities were pedestrians: One fatality was a bicyclist who was not wearing a helmet.
In 13 of the fatal crashes, the person at fault was between the ages of 16 to 35.
Forty percent of the fatal crashes occurring within Lucas County involved a driver under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both at the time of the crash.
Of the 20 fatalities where seatbelts were available and belt use was known, only three people were buckled at the time of the crash.
The Traffic Safety Program is funded through grants from the Ohio Department of Public Safety and is administered by the Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West.
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