State troopers investigate nearly 44% fewer Christmas weekend crashes than 2022
Westmoreland and Allegheny counties saw a decrease in crashes during the holiday weekend from last year, according to state police.
State police covering Westmoreland, Allegheny and six other counties responded to 62 crashes from Saturday to Monday, down nearly 44% from 2022.
The crashes resulted in 17 injuries, which matches data from 2022.
One of the three fatal crashes in the state last weekend occurred at 1 a.m. Monday on the inbound side of the Parkway East near Edgewood. Three vehicles were involved in the crash, which killed 24-year-old Dax Antonio Hernandez-Reyes. His hometown was not available.
Crashes not investigated by state police:
• Police investigate fatal motorcycle crash in Greenfield
• Pedestrian struck Christmas Eve on Route 30 in Hempfield
• 2 people flee on foot from Belle Vernon vehicle crash
About 15% of the crashes and 24% of the injuries addressed by troopers across the state throughout the weekend occurred in the Westmoreland and Allegheny counties region. Alcohol resulted in five of the crashes, which is consistent with the 36 alcohol-related crashes across the state.
DUI arrests were up nearly 58% from 11 in 2022, and 67 people were given citations for speeding — an increase in nearly 80% from last year. Nearly 200 DUI arrests and more than 1,000 speeding citations occurred across the state.
State police urges drivers to remain vigilant for impaired, aggressive and distracted drivers during the upcoming New Year’s Eve weekend.
Quincey Reese is a TribLive reporter covering the Greensburg and Hempfield areas. She also does reporting for the Penn-Trafford Star. A Penn Township native, she joined the Trib in 2023 after working as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the company for two summers. She can be reached at qreese@triblive.com.
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