The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has partnered with the Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies for heightened DUI enforcement.
Heightened patrols began on Aug. 16 and will run through Sept. 4. Drivers can expect sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and more law enforcement on duty, according to a CDOT press release.
“Impaired driving-related crashes, injuries and fatalities are entirely preventable. When you drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you are gambling with other people's lives,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.
There is a surge in fatal crashes between Memorial Day and Labor day. Since Memorial Day, there have been approximately 1,400 crashes involving a suspected impaired driver. In June and July, Colorado saw 129 traffic fatalities, 44 of which involved a suspected impaired driver.
On Sunday night, a suspected intoxicated driver was arrested in Colorado Springs after hitting a construction worker and fleeing the scene.
A flagger was standing on Highway 24 when the driver collided with the worker and sped off, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The flagger wasn’t hurt.
Another worker followed the driver until he was apprehended by troopers.
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Source: KKTV, Chaffee County Times
