Law enforcement steps up patrols for holiday
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PARKERSBURG -- Local law enforcement will be looking for impaired drivers during New Year's Day.
"We will have our normal patrol coverage, but we will be watching," said Wood County Sheriff Steve Stephens.
According to Stephens, Wood County does not typically see an increase of impaired driving over the holiday season.
"I think everyone is more aware of the ramifications of driving impaired," he said. "There are so many ways to celebrate and not drive nowadays, with options such as designated drivers, Yellow Cab, Lyft and Uber, which all help to alleviate the issue," Stephens said.
According to Parkersburg Police Chief Joe Martin, Parkersburg Police Department will be increasing its patrols for New Year's Eve and Day.
Vienna Police Department also will be increasing its New Year's Eve patrols, but Police Chief Mike Pifer said that over the years the department has seen a decrease in DUIs over the holiday season.
"But it still happens; in fact, there was a wreck last night where a drunk driver hit another vehicle," Pifer said on Tuesday.
Lucas Heiss, 39, of Waterford, was cited with DUI causing bodily injuries and hit and run leaving behind an injured person. Heiss, who was driving a red Chevy Tahoe, hit Melissa Harvey's silver Ford Escape on Route 14 around 11 p.m. Monday, Vienna Police Department said.
According to the police report, Heiss was driving behind Harvey when he hit the back of the vehicle, causing both vehicles to go into a ditch. Heiss allegedly then exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
"The Vienna Police Department was assisted by the Wood County Sheriff's Office, whose Deputy R. Windland located Heiss where Route 14 and Rosemar Road connect," said Lt. Rob Pifer.
According to Rob Pifer, Heiss was transported to Camden Clark Medical Center with visible injuries. Harvey refused transportation, receiving only minor bruising.
Rob Pifer reminds those out on the roads this holiday season that accidents caused by drunken or impaired driving are preventable. Those who are or will be out celebrating should make driving arrangements ahead of time, he said.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, during the New Year's and Christmas periods in 2018, there were 285 drunken-driving-related fatalities in the United States, and 10,511 people were killed nationwide in drunken-driving crashes for all of 2018.
In West Virginia, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or greater is over the legal limit, which means 0.08 percent of the bloodstream is comprised of alcohol.