Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Eight percent of the traffic accidents that occurred in Kosciusko County last year were alcohol-related.
That statistic is one of many included in the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department annual report.
Countywide, law enforcement agencies logged 445 DWI arrests. One hundred twenty-five of those arrests were by the KCSD; 64 by the Warsaw Police Department; 34 by the Winona Lake Police Department; 109 by the Indiana State Police; 35 by the Syracuse Police Department; 19 by the Pierceton Police Department; 36 by the North Webster Police Deparment; nine by the Mentone Police Department; eight by the Milford Police Department; five by the Department of Natural Resources; and one by the Nappanee Police Department.
Total DWI arrests were down 121, or 21 percent, compared to 1995.
A total of 1,262 accidents were investigated by sheriff's deputies. Twenty of the accidents, or 1-1/2 percent, resulted in fatalities. Twenty-five percent involved injuries, with 466 people hurt in 314 accidents, and 75 percent were property damage only.
Sixty-four percent of the accidents occurred on county roads, while 26 percent were on state roads. The remaining accidents were divided between private property, urban areas and U.S. roads.
The twelve most common roads for accidents in Kosciusko County in 1996 were: Ind. 13N (5.07 percent); Ind. 15S (3.96 percent); U.S. 30W (3.88 percent); Ind. 25S (3.80 percent); East CR 500N (3.01 percent); Ind. 15N (2.93 percent); U.S. 30E (2.77 percent); Ind. 13S (2.69 percent); North CR 300E (2.54 percent); Ind. 19N (2.46 percent); Old Road 30W (2.46 percent); and Old Road 30E (2.06 percent). These roads accounted for 37 percent of all reported accidents.
Eighty-eight percent of all accidents in the county involved male drivers. Seventy-one percent of all drivers involved in county accidents were aged 18-54.
The most common time for accidents was between 3 and 4 p.m. Friday had the most accidents recorded of any day throughout the year with 219, while Thursday and Saturday were close behind at 197 and 196, respectively.
The Kosciusko County Special Operations Team noted an increase in the amount of crack cocaine seized in 1996. The total number of cases opened in 1996 dropped to 224 from the previous year's 310.
Police report eradicating 1.8 million marijuana plants in the county.
Arrests in connection with drug-related investigations include 136 for marijuana, six for cocaine, two for depressants, one for LSD and one for crack cocaine.
The Kosciusko County Jail had an average daily inmate count of 133 for 1996. The average number of prisoners held was 6.77 percent higher than last year's average.
The jail showed a 4.61 percent drop in total prisoners booked - 3,126 in 1996, over 1995's 3,270.
