Kona officers arrest seven for suspected DUI

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Hawaii Island police report 15 motorists were arrested between March 30 and Sunday for allegedly driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Four of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes and one was younger than age 21.

Hawaii Island police report 15 motorists were arrested between March 30 and Sunday for allegedly driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Four of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes and one was younger than age 21.

So far this year there have been 249 DUI arrests compared to 345 during the same period last year, a decrease of 27.8 percent, according to the Hawaii Police Department.

Kona officers arrested seven motorists while South Hilo officers arrested four, police said. Officers in South Kohala and Puna arrested two motorists in each district for suspected drunken driving.

There have also been 362 major accidents so far this year compared with 443 during the same period last year, a decrease of 18.3 percent.

So far this year, there have been six traffic fatalities on Hawaii Island public roadways compared with four during the same period last year, an increase of 50 percent.

To date, four fatalities have been attributed to drugs and none to alcohol.