As many get ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, law enforcement teams across New Hampshire are sending a message not to drink and drive. New Hampshire State Police said officers will be working with county and local police departments to catch impaired drivers and keep roads safe. Officials said from 2015 to 2020, 198 people were killed in alcohol impaired crashes in New Hampshire. During that same five-year period, police said the average blood alcohol concentration for impaired drivers involved in New Hampshire crashes was 0.181%, more than double the legal limit. Beth Shaw, the mother of a 20-year-old son who died due to an impaired driver back in 2018, is reminding the public that the fatal accident could have been prevented. She said if you’re planning to drink, find a sober driver to bring you home. “Words fail to adequately express the impact Tyler’s death has had on us. Our lives have truly been shattered. Our family will never be whole again,” Shaw said. State Police Captain Chris Vetter also had a personal experience with an impaired driver. He said his son de el narrowly escaped serious injury when he was involved in a crash in Peterborough in 2016. Vetter said the driver who hit his son’s vehicle was arrested on his third Driving Under the Influence charge. “So when people ask me why is it that you do what you do, why do you hold the line on DWIs, my son is the reason,” Captain Vetter said.State police said in 2020, Interstate 93 was the number one location in New Hampshire for impaired crashes. Police said special patrols focused on catching drunk drivers will continue after St. Patrick’s Day.
As many get ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, law enforcement teams across New Hampshire are sending a message not to drink and drive.
New Hampshire State Police said officers will be working with county and local police departments to catch impaired drivers and keep roads safe.
Officials said from 2015 to 2020, 198 people were killed in alcohol impaired crashes in New Hampshire. During that same five-year period, police said the average blood alcohol concentration for impaired drivers involved in New Hampshire crashes was 0.181%, more than double the legal limit.
Beth Shaw, the mother of a 20-year-old son who died due to an impaired driver back in 2018, is reminding the public that the fatal accident could have been prevented.
She said if you’re planning to drink, find a superb driver to bring you home.
“Words fail to adequately express the impact Tyler’s death has had on us. Our lives have truly been shattered. Our family will never be whole again,” Shaw said.
State Police Captain Chris Vetter also had a personal experience with an impaired driver. He said his son de el narrowly escaped serious injury when he was involved in a crash in Peterborough in 2016. Vetter said the driver who hit his son’s vehicle was arrested on his third Driving Under the Influence charge.
“So when people ask me why is it that you do what you do, why do you hold the line on DWIs, my son is the reason,” Captain Vetter said.
State police said in 2020, Interstate 93 was the number one location in New Hampshire for impaired crashes. Police said special patrols focused on catching drunk drivers will continue after St. Patrick’s Day.
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism