Law enforcement agencies are currently conducting extra patrols on Highway 20 between Philomath and Newport through Sunday to coincide with the annual Newport Seafood and Wine Festival on the coast, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office reported.
“We want the community to enjoy the festival; however, we are asking people to drive sober and avoid getting behind the wheel if they have been drinking alcohol or consuming other intoxicating substances,” BCSO said through a press release issued Thursday afternoon.
According to the sheriff’s office, Highway 20 is the deadliest roadway in Benton County with seven fatalities from crashes recorded last year alone. Data from the Oregon Department of Transportation shows 85% of those fatalities involved drugs or alcohol.
BCSO said that in a concerted effort to prevent such tragedies, eight other law-enforcement agencies are involved in a partnership to try to improve road safety and reduce the number of crashes related to impaired drivers and hazardous driving behavior, including the Philomath and Corvallis police departments in this weekend’s operation.
Other partner agencies include the Albany, Lincoln County, Newport and Toledo police departments, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police.