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Local News

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Hancock County, Findlay crashes claim fewer lives
Hancock Federal Credit Union
By ERIC SCHAADT

Staff Writer

For the second consecutive year, the number of people killed in traffic accidents on Hancock County and Findlay roadways has dropped.

And the number of alcohol-related fatalities has remained consistently low in recent years.

During 2009, nine people lost their lives from nine traffic crashes, compared to 10 travelers who perished in 2008, according to records compiled by Lt. John Clevidence of the Hancock County Sheriff's Office.

Eleven persons died in crashes during 2007.

Authorities reported alcohol was involved in four of the nine fatal accidents during 2009, including a reportedly intoxicated pedestrian who walked into the path of an auto on Ohio 12 near Arcadia.

Alcohol was a factor in three fatalities in 2008, while impaired drivers were involved in three fatalities in 2007, according to records compiled by local authorities.

"Our DUIs (driving while intoxicated) are down. The news is finally getting out," said Lt. Jerrod Savidge, commander of the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol.

"They can't afford the fine," Savidge suggested as one reason for the decline. He said the average court fine is $500 for a motorist arrested the first time for driving while impaired.

Jail time from a drunken-driving arrest also can mean the loss of time from work, he noted. A convicted drunken driver also must pay attorney fees and a hike in insurance rates.

The patrol post tabulated 479 drunken driving arrests during 2008; as of late 2009 the post had arrested 383 impaired drivers. The Findlay patrol post covers roadways in Hancock County and a portion of northern Hardin County.

Driving under the influence arrests were down in Findlay, too.

"I guess people are getting the message. More people are educated about drinking and driving," said Sgt. Mike Martien, crime prevention officer with the Findlay Police Department.

In addition to the financial impact of an arrest for operating a vehicle while impaired, Martien said a conviction can affect a person's "reputation at work or in the community."

From January through November 2009, city police responded to 134 incidents involving impaired drivers compared to 174 similar incidents during the same 11-month span in 2008.

"We have a zero tolerance for drunken driving," Martien said.

Alcohol contributed to a fatal accident in Findlay last year. According to a city police report, an all-terrain vehicle driver with a blood alcohol content of 0.106 was killed when the vehicle crashed in an alley near the 400 block of Sixth Street last October.

The driver was not wearing a helmet, reports stated.

On Hancock County roads, the sheriff's office responded to 27 alcohol-related accidents from January through November 2009, compared to 28 incidents during all of 2008.

In 2006 and again in 2007, 29 accidents involving alcohol were noted, according to Clevidence.

The presence of road deputies may have helped keep those numbers steady, authorities suggested.

"I'm sure enforcement has a lot to do with it," Clevidence said.

State grants, he added, help pay for additional patrol hours during holidays.

Speed was a significant factor in four of the nine fatalities last year in Hancock County and Findlay, according to Clevidence.

Failing to yield was a factor in three others. Traveling left of center, and a pedestrian failing to yield were the remaining two reasons.

"Speed is a main (reason)," Clevidence maintained. "Everyone's in a hurry."

Texting while driving is another habit that authorities would like to discourage.

"You can't do two things at once," Martien said.

In surrounding counties, the number of fatal accidents remained fairly steady last year. The following statistics reflect the number of fatal accidents, but not the number of people killed:

Six fatal accidents occurred in Putnam County in 2009, compared to five in 2008. (No alcohol-related fatalities were noted in 2009 in that county compared to three in 2008.)

According to the State Department of Public Safety, nine fatal crashes were noted in Allen County last year, and nine were also reported in 2008. (Five involved alcohol in 2009; two in 2008.)

Fifteen fatal accidents occurred in Wood County last year, up from 14 the previous year. (Six involved alcohol in 2009; seven in 2008.)

Five fatal crashes happened in Hardin County in 2009, up from four in 2008. (Two alcohol crashes in 2009; one in 2008.)

In Seneca County, five fatal accidents occurred last year, down from seven in 2008. (One alcohol crash in 2009; two in 2008.)

In Wyandot County, two fatal crashes were reported last year, the same number as in 2008. (No alcohol crashes last year; one in 2008).

In Henry County, there were four fatal crashes in 2009, down one from 2008. (One alcohol crash in 2009; none in 2008).

Statewide, the number of fatal accidents has been declining.

"The trend (of fatal crashes) in the last couple of years is going down incrementally," according to Sgt. Raymond Durant of the public affairs office of the State Highway Patrol in Columbus.

As of late December 2009, 974 persons had been killed in accidents compared to 1,181 during 2008, Durant said.

That was down from 1,257 persons who perished in 2007, Durant said.

One reason, Durant said, is the "aggressive stance" of troopers monitoring Ohio's roads.

In an effort to aid new drivers, Savidge is considering approaching auto dealerships to become a partner with the patrol in creating "a proactive driving course" that could be held in a local parking lot.

Used cars and an off-road course with cones could teach drivers to better react after losing control of a vehicle and not oversteer.

"You don't have to panic," he said.

The course could instruct motorists to bring an auto gradually into control and back onto the pavement.

On the Net:

www.statepatrol.ohio.gov



Schaadt: 419-427-8414,

Send an e-mail to Eric Schaadt


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After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

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The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

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With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

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The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.