State patrol announces July 4th traffic stats

SENECA COUNTY — According to a release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, there were a total of 139 incidents during the Fourth of July holiday reporting period, including 10 fatalities. The reporting window ran from midnight Thursday, July 3, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 6. None of the traffic fatalities occurred in Seneca County. In total, troopers made more than 30,000 traffic contacts statewide. Six of the seven people killed in crashes where seat belts were available were not wearing one. Troopers issued 2,286 citations for safety belt and child safety seat violations. Nearby counties also saw heightened activity: 721 incidents were reported in Sandusky County, 451 in Hancock County, 295 in Wyandot County and 191 in Huron County. Statewide, the Patrol made 404 impaired driving arrests and 73 drug-related arrests. Troopers responded to 482 crashes and assisted more than 2,000 motorists. Although Ohio's seat belt law is a secondary violation, troopers enforced it with zero tolerance when stopping drivers for other offenses over the holiday weekend. Drivers can report unsafe or impaired driving by calling #677.