State police in Southwestern Pa. investigate 88 crashes over Fourth of July weekend, write 1,202 speeding tickets

State troopers in the region investigated 88 crashes during the four-day Fourth of July weekend, one of which was fatal, according to statistics released this week.

There were 35 people hurt and alcohol was involved in 10 of the crashes, according to data for Troops A and B, which cover Westmoreland, Allegheny and most of the six other surrounding counties. In addition, troopers arrested 75 people for DUI charges, and issued 1,202 speeding tickets.

A fatal crash on Route 28 in Harrison on Monday is being investigated by troopers from the Kittanning station.

Troopers are investigating a motorcycle crash that happened Monday in South Huntingdon. The crash, which occurred at the intersection of Route 31 and Nichols Lane around 1:30 p.m., resulted in two people being transported by medical helicopter.

Statewide, 680 crashes were investigated by state police, nine of which were fatal. Alcohol was cited as a factor in four of the fatal crashes, troopers said.

There were 195 people injured and alcohol was a factor in 58 of the crashes reported across the state. Statistics show that troopers made 503 DUI arrests and issued 8,935 speeding tickets.

That’s compared to 2019 when 975 crashes were investigated by state troopers across Pennsylvania during the five-day Fourth of July weekend when nine people were killed.

That year, 287 people were injured and 74 crashes were alcohol-related, police said.

This year, about 5.7 million people were expected to use the Pennsylvania Turnpike between July 2-11, according to projections from the turnpike commission. The 10-day projections showed a “near return to pre-pandemic traffic levels” and an increase of 1 million people travelling on state roadways this year, according to a news release.