Police Hope to Avoid Repeat of Last Year’s St. Patrick’s Day Tragedy

Police hope to avoid a repeat of last year’s St. Patrick’s Day tragedy in which a drunk driver lost control of his vehicle on 134 Ventura Freeway near the Orange Grove Boulevard exit in Pasadena and slammed into a car carrying four people, causing it to burst into flames.

Their hope, Police Chief Phillip L. Sanchez said, is that people will make good choices before taking their first drink, and a swarm of police checkpoints and patrols will be waiting for those who don’t.

“When you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, just be smart about it. If you know you’re going to drink–whether with friends at a pub or attending a party — designate a sober driver ahead of time or call a taxi to make sure you get home safely,” Chief Sanchez said. “There’s never an excuse for driving after drinking.”

Sanchez said his department plans to “saturate” the area with patrols throughout the weekend.

Checkpoints in Pasadena, Whittier, Pico Rivera, Arcadia and the unincorporated area of West Covina are just five of the 13 checkpoints taking place this weekend in the county, along with more than 87 roving DUI patrols, according to representatives of the Los Angeles County DUI task force of law enforcement agencies collectively known as “Avoid the 100.”

To prevent a repeat of last year’s tragedy, Chief Sanchez recommended Pasadenans take the following precautions:

• Before the festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public
transportation to get home safely.
• If available, use your community’s sober ride program.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, Report Them! Call 9-1-1! You could save a
life.
• And remember, if you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired,
take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are
going safely.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that more than 50 people die each year on St. Patrick’s Day in alcohol related traffic accidents.