State Police: 14 OWI Crashes On Detroit-Area Freeways In July

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(WWJ) Along with freeway shootings, drunk and drugged driving crashes are on the rise this summer in metro Detroit, according to Michigan State Police.

"We discussed the amount of illegal guns we have taken off the street in Wayne County as well as the amount of shootings we have had on the freeways. But we have also seen another trend that could be easily corrected by drivers in the district," MSP said on Monday. 

In MSP District 2 — which covers Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties — State Police say there were nine crashes in which a driver was Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) and two fatal crashes on the freeways in July of 2019. One of those fatal crashes was OWI-related, police said.

In the month of July of 2020, police say there were 14 OWI crashes and nine fatal crashes in District 2, with three of the fatal crashes being OWI-related. 

With these stats in mind, State Police urge the following:

  • Don’t drink and drive
  • Don’t smoke marijuana and drive
  • Don’t drive under the influence of prescription or OTC drugs
  • Watch your speed
  • Increase your following distance
  • Wear your seatbelt
  • Don’t drive distracted

This update from MSP comes after the Second District earlier reported shootings on the freeways have spiked in recent weeks. 

Over the weekend, State Police said they were investigating at least the 17th incident of gunfire on a Detroit-area freeway since mid-June; many of the shootings linked to "traffic disputes," more commonly known as road rage incidents.