OC Officers Net More Than 240 DUI Arrests Over Holiday Weekend
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — More than 240 people were arrested for allegedly driving under the influence over the holiday weekend, authorities reported. One of those arrests involved a driver suspected of killing a pedestrian in Laguna Niguel.
The number may continue to climb since some agencies have yet to report their weekend statistics, said Gail Krause of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
The "Avoid the 38" crackdown on DUI was expanded this year, from Wednesday through Sunday, because the Fourth of July fell on a Thursday. The name refers to the 38 law enforcement agencies in Orange County.
A similar initiative in Los Angeles County, "Avoid the 100," resulted in 490 arrests, according to a press release from LA County.
Authorities say 58-year-old Luzanna Malec, of Laguna Niguel, was a likely victim of DUI driving when she was fatally struck Thursday night by 43-year-old James Gallo, said Orange County sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock. No charges have been filed in the case.
Officers made 78 arrests during last year's "Avoid the 38" crackdown, which covered only a two-day period. There were no drinking-related traffic fatalities during that period, Krause said.
(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
