The Lorain County Traffic Fatality Review Committee reviewed five fatal traffic crashes that killed five people between July 27, 2023, and Nov. 4, 2023, according to a news release.
Conducted through Lorain County Public Health, the committee meets quarterly to review local fatal vehicle crashes to identify trends and develop possible countermeasures and interventions to prevent similar crashes, the release said.
• One crash involved alcohol
• One crash involved drugs and alcohol
• Three crashes involved high speed
• Two crashes involved motorcycles; both were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash
• Two drivers were younger than the age of 30
• Three drivers were older than the age of 50
• Two crashes involved people who were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
As of Dec. 7, 20 fatal crashes and 21 deaths occurred in 2023, according to the release.
A seat belt was not used in 54% of the crashes; alcohol was a factor in 40% of the crashes; eight of the crashes involved a motorcycle; five of the crashes involved a victim younger than the age of 24; and 50% of the crashes occurred in rural and urban areas of Lorain County, the release said.
On Lorain County roads in 2022, 20 fatal crashes occurred, and 21 people died.
In 2021, 33 fatal crashes occurred, and 38 people died.
In 2020, 15 fatal crashes occurred and 16 people died.
“One death is too many,” said Mark Adams, Lorain County Public Health health commissioner, in the release. “Safe roads depend on all of us.”
The Traffic Fatality Review Committee and the Safe Communities Coalition remind Lorain County residents to:
• Drive sober. If you feel different, you drive different. Ask someone to be your designated driver or order an Uber or Lyft.
• Drive focused. It’s now illegal in Ohio to use or hold a cell phone or other electronic device with your hands, in your lap or with any other part of your body while driving.
• Buckle up.
