18 accused of drunken driving

Big Island police arrested 19 motorists for drunken driving last week.

Three of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.

So far this year, 784 people have been arrested for driving under the influence. There were 826 arrests by this time last year, a decrease of 5.1 percent.

There have been 831 major accidents so far this year compared with 781 during the same period last year, an increase of 6.4 percent.

So far this year, there have been 21 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 15 during the same period last year, an increase of 40 percent.

To date, 11 fatalities were related to drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide, police said.