Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security Release Preliminary Memorial Day & No Refusal Results

NASHVILLE --- Preliminary reports released today by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security indicate that eight people were killed in traffic crashes during the 96-hour Memorial Day holiday period this year. That’s one less than the nine vehicular fatalities recorded during the 2014 Memorial Day period. (The preliminary Memorial Day holiday traffic fatality numbers include vehicular deaths reported by all Tennessee law enforcement agencies.)

Five of the people killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts, while two of the traffic deaths were motorcycle riders.  There were zero alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol’s “No Refusal” enforcement resulted in 31 DUI arrests and 316 seat belt citations in the nine participating counties during the holiday period.  The “No Refusal” counties included, Anderson (Knoxville District), Grundy (Chattanooga District), Rutherford and Wilson (Nashville District), Shelby (Memphis District), Washington (Fall Branch District), Putnam (Cookeville District), Bedford (Lawrenceburg District), and Henry (Jackson District).

Of the eight traffic fatalities statewide, one death occurred in a “No Refusal” county (Shelby County).

The results for the nine-county “No Refusal” enforcement effort are listed below.  A statistical report from the Memorial Day holiday period also accompanies this release.

Anderson County

DUI arrests:                                            3

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      0

Grundy County

DUI arrests:                                            3

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      0

Rutherford County

DUI Arrests:                                            8                                              

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      0

Wilson County

DUI Arrests:                                            2                                              

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      0

Shelby County

DUI Arrests:                                            4                                              

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      0

Washington County

DUI Arrests:                                            0                                              

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      0

Putnam County

DUI Arrests:                                            5                                              

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      4

Bedford County

DUI Arrests:                                            2                                              

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      0

Henry County

DUI Arrests:                                            4                                              

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      0

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.