LOS ANGELES COUNTY — One person died in a traffic crash in Los Angeles County during the first 12 hours of the holiday weekend — the same number reported over the same period last year, authorities said Thursday.
The reporting period spanned from 6 p.m. Wednesday evening to 6 a.m. Thursday morning, California Highway Patrol Officer Monica Posada said.
CHP officers reported 54 arrests for driving under the influence, down from 65 last year, Posada said.
Statewide, four traffic-related deaths were reported to the CHP, compared with five over the same time period in 2009, Posada said.
DUI arrested throughout the state rose slightly from 271 last year to 289 this year.
“During the holiday season, many people are in a hurry and eager to get to their destination,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said in a written statement. “It’s important to remember that safety should never take a back seat. Be safe, pay attention to the road, never drink and drive, and always buckle up.”
The CHP statistics reflect only incidents handled by the CHP, which patrols freeways and state highways, as well as some surface streets in unincorporated county areas.
The fatality reported during the first 12 hours of the holiday weekend occurred about 2:25 a.m. on Eastern Avenue, just south of Medford Avenue, in an unincorporated county area near East Los Angeles, Posada said.
A 31-year-old Los Angeles man died at the scene of the solo-motorcycle crash, CHP officials said.
“For unknown reasons, the motorcycle collided into the center median,” a CHP statement read.
The rider was thrown from his motorcycle and suffered fatal injuries, officials said.
As the holiday weekend continues, CHP officers will be out in force to watch for speeders and drunken drivers.
The holiday “maximum enforcement period” began at 6 p.m. Wednesday and continues through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, officials said. Officers will also look for drivers not wearing seat belts.
During the CHP’s maximum enforcement periods, all available officers are assigned to patrol duty. Similar efforts are planned over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.