Ohio State Highway Patrol Investigates 17 out of 20 fatal Crashes in Trumbull County in 2023
Warren, Trumbull County – Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Daniel Morrison of the Warren Post has revealed that his team has investigated 17 out of the 20 fatal crashes that occurred in Trumbull County in 2023. Of those crashes, 12 were caused by either alcohol or drug impairment. Nine of the crashes involved individuals over the age of 55, while the remaining three involved individuals under the age of 24. Morrison stated that impaired driving has been a recurring issue in fatal crashes over the past few years and emphasized the need for improvement from the public.
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To address the issue, Morrison explained that the highway patrol focuses on traffic enforcement through traffic stops, education, and engineering approaches. The patrol conducts community events and public speaking engagements to educate the public on road safety. Additionally, they collaborate with Trumbull County Safe Communities, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and the Trumbull County Engineer’s Office to analyze fatal crashes and identify potential engineering improvements. While driver error is often the main contributor to accidents, the patrol also recommends safety features at problematic intersections.
In terms of specific incidents, Warren Police investigated two fatal crashes, while the Ohio State Highway Patrol investigated one fatal crash in Girard. Sixty of Warren’s crashes were alcohol-related, with 43 resulting in injuries and two being fatal. Morrison mentioned that a full report on the Warren Police Department’s traffic/fatal crash statistics is yet to be completed.
Morrison highlighted the issue of pedestrian fatalities, with three fatal crashes occurring in February 2023. These incidents involved individuals crossing various state routes and resulted in tragic outcomes. He advised families to consider reevaluating their loved ones’ ability to drive safely and encouraged them to fill out a form with the DMV to request a driver’s test.
In terms of statewide statistics, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported a decrease in both the number of people killed and fatal crashes compared to the previous year. In 2023, 1,250 people were killed in 1,159 fatal crashes, while in 2022, 1,275 people were killed in 1,180 fatal crashes.
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To address teenage driving, the Warren post commander mentioned the SMASH program, where members of the Ohio State Extension Office’s 4-H Youth Development partner with the post to educate students on traffic safety topics. Teen-related crashes saw a 10% decrease in both 2022 and 2023.
Distracted driving laws were strengthened in 2023 in an effort to reduce distracted driving-related accidents. Trumbull County had 95 distracted-driving crashes causing property damage only, 38 with suspected minor injuries, 17 with possible injuries, and six with suspected serious injuries. Thankfully, there were no fatal accidents attributed to distracted driving in the county in 2023.
Overall, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies continue to prioritize traffic enforcement, education, and engineering improvements to reduce the number of fatal crashes in Trumbull County and across Ohio..
