State police ramp up patrols

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Indiana State Police will have extra troopers on highways over the extended July 4th holiday. Last year 5 people died in crashes during that period.

Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) runs from July 3 through July 7.  The federally funded program allows for 150 extra troopers  to patrol highways over the holiday period.

The officers will specifically be targeting impaired drivers, speeders, motorists who follow too closely, drivers who make unsafe lane changes or drive aggressively, seat belt violations and vehicles with children who aren't properly restrained.

According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, there were 131 alcohol related crashes during the July 4 holiday period in 2008.  Three of those crashes were fatalities.