Ohio patrol, police target Warren Twp. with fewer vehicle accidents reported

Staff report

LEAVITTSBURG

The Southington Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol has completed a monthlong “Problem Site Identification” project in Warren Township.

Because of an increase in fatal crashes in the township in recent years, the highway patrol worked in conjunction with township police to reduce crashes through high-visibility enforcement by targeting crash-causing violations last month.

The highway patrol initiated 310 traffic stops in the township for various violations and wrote 149 citations in September.

They included 81 seat-belt citations, four arrests for operating a motor vehicle impaired, 58 notifications for vehicle defects, 13 citations for failure to yield and 24 citations for driving under suspension.

The highway patrol also gave out 101 written warnings.

There was a 40 percent decrease in crashes in the township in September 2011 compared with the last four years, the highway patrol said.

Over the past four years, the township experienced an average of 15 crashes in September, but there were nine last month.

“Although this enforcement blitz was for the month of September, we will continue to aggressively work the area to continue our efforts in reducing crashes,” said Lt. Brian Holt, Southington post commander.