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WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Tenn. - Officials say they saw a 300% increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities last year. They'll be out in full force starting Friday, during one of the busiest weekends of the year for drunk driving arrests. Franklin County law enforcement is joining forces with the Governor's Highway Safety Office for what they're calling a weekend of focused enforcement to keep drunk drivers off the road Super Bowl weekend. You might not see them, but they'll be out there patrolling Franklin County highways this Super Bowl weekend. They say they'd rather arrest a drunk driver than to have to deliver a devastating message to an innocent family after it's too late.
"Delivering a death message to somebody who's been killed in an impaired driving crash is probably the toughest thing a law enforcement officer can do," says the Governor's Highway Safety Office's Clint Shrum.
Shrum says Franklin County saw a 300% increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2012 from the year before, and saw the highest total fatalities since 2007.
"We've seen a spike and we're just trying to figure out what's causing it and we're going to take action," says Shrum.
Shrum says 27% of the county's 12 traffic fatalities last year were alcohol-related. That's why they're planning to strengthen their efforts to find drunk drivers Super Bowl weekend and get them off the roads.
"I love it and I wish they would do it more often," says Deborah Bell.
Bell and her daughter Wendy don't work in law enforcement, but say they're joining their cause.
"Police are not everywhere at every moment," says Bell. "We have to step up and do what's right for everyone, I believe."
They plan to be on the lookout for weaving cars this weekend and report any drunk drivers to the police.
"My mom could be out there on the road," says Bell. "My daughter could be out there on the road. I'm not taking that chance."
The Governor's Highway Safety Office says this year has already seen 2 traffic fatalities in Franklin County. They believe one of them may have been alcohol related.
"Delivering a death message to somebody who's been killed in an impaired driving crash is probably the toughest thing a law enforcement officer can do," says the Governor's Highway Safety Office's Clint Shrum.
Shrum says Franklin County saw a 300% increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2012 from the year before, and saw the highest total fatalities since 2007.
"We've seen a spike and we're just trying to figure out what's causing it and we're going to take action," says Shrum.
Shrum says 27% of the county's 12 traffic fatalities last year were alcohol-related. That's why they're planning to strengthen their efforts to find drunk drivers Super Bowl weekend and get them off the roads.
"I love it and I wish they would do it more often," says Deborah Bell.
Bell and her daughter Wendy don't work in law enforcement, but say they're joining their cause.
"Police are not everywhere at every moment," says Bell. "We have to step up and do what's right for everyone, I believe."
They plan to be on the lookout for weaving cars this weekend and report any drunk drivers to the police.
"My mom could be out there on the road," says Bell. "My daughter could be out there on the road. I'm not taking that chance."
The Governor's Highway Safety Office says this year has already seen 2 traffic fatalities in Franklin County. They believe one of them may have been alcohol related.
Thursday, January 31 2013, 09:40 PM CST
Tennessee News
Pipeline work can continue at state natural area
May 24, 2013 11:16 GMT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee environmental officials have given Piedmont Natural Gas permission to resume drilling on a Nashville pipeline project.
Work was halted on May 11 when a mixture of bentonite clay and water spilled from a drill into Otter Creek at the Radnor Lake State Natural Area.
The mud was later scraped out of the creek using buckets and hand tools.
Meredith Benton, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, told The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/199LA54 ) that Piedmont agreed to 11 new terms and conditions to prevent a recurrence of the spill.
Those include creating a pit to capture any spilled slurry and daily water quality monitoring.
Benton said the department has not decided whether to issue fines or citations.
Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com
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