Police nab 19 for suspected drunken driving

Hawaii Police Department officers arrested 19 motorists for suspected drunken driving between Dec. 12 and Sunday. Four of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes and one was younger than age 21.

Kona officers arrested nine drivers while Puna officers arrested five and South Hilo officers four, according to data released by the Hawaii Police Department. South Kohala officers arrested one motorist.

So far this year, there have been 948 DUI arrests compared with 1,037 during the same period last year, according to police.

There have been 812 major accidents so far this year compared with 786 during the same period last year.

Thiry-four fatalities have been recorded on the Big Island’s public roadways this year. By this time in 2021, 25 people had died.