December 21st, 2017 by WCBC Radio

As Christmas and New Year’s quickly approaches, Maryland State Police are reminding motorists about the dangers of driving impaired and driving distracted.

Through Nov. 30, there have been 97 DUI-related fatalities reported in Maryland, including 33 that were investigated by Maryland State Police. This compares to 97 statewide (44 investigated by Maryland State Police) over the same period in 2016.

In recent weeks, troopers have investigated multiple crashes that have led to fatalities, multiple injuries and/or extended lane closures and traffic delays. Just consider the following:

• On Dec. 11, a four-vehicle crash in Talbot County led to two people being flown to Shock Trauma. Katie Cray Long, 43, of Centreville, Md.  is being investigated for driving under the influence as she was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of U.S. Rt. 50 when she struck three vehicles, including one head-on, according to investigators. (See photos below)
• On Dec. 7, Taylor Anne Halbleib, 21, of Hughesville, Md. died after being involved in a three-vehicle crash on MD Rt. 6 in Charles County. According to investigators, the driver at fault was Daniel Juwan Butler, 22, of Newburg, Md. The preliminary investigation indicates that Butler was driving eastbound on MD Rt. 6, west of Cooksey Road when the crash occurred. Butler for unknown reasons failed to stop, striking Halbleib’s car in the rear, which was then pushed into another car. Speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in this crash, according to investigators.

Troopers from each of the 23 Maryland State Police barracks who patrol every county will continue to focus enforcement efforts on impaired driving, aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving and other violations that often contribute to highway tragedies, especially during the holiday season.  Additional troopers will be working overtime assignments funded by highway safety grants from the Maryland Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office.