Police react to rash of accidents involving drunk drivers

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - We've had a rash of accidents lately involving drunk drivers, and people are questioning what police are going to do to fight back against the problem.

Lieutenant Tony Maze can easily recall some of the more recent accidents involving drunk drivers. Although it may seem like drinking and driving's on the rise, Maze said statistics are showing the issue's staying steady.

"I think peoples' perception is there's more of them (drunk drivers) out there. I think people are just paying more attention which is a good thing," Lt. Tony Maze said.

Drinking and driving concerns police for various reasons.

"As a father of a soon-to-be newly licensed teenage driver that concerns me greatly. Drunk drivers are on the road 24 hours a day 7 days a week," Indiana State Police Spokesperson Ron Galaviz said.

The public's actually helping lead police officers to drunk drivers.

"Like the gentleman on Maplecrest and Evard, we knew about him. We just unfortunately couldn't get to where he was before a tragedy happened," Maze said.

Police said although statistics aren't showing drinking and driving's on the rise their agencies are still working hard to fight back against it.

"We can't find a drunk driver unless we stop them. You know drunk drivers speed, don't wear their seatbelts, they make unsafe lane movements the same as sober drivers," Galaviz said.

Police will have another DUI blitz in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime though they encourage you to call 911 if you see one on the road.