Staff report
During the month of July, the Highway Patrol will be increasing its presence in Davidson County and cracking down on violators in an effort to reduce fatal collisions.
Troopers will be cracking down on drunk drivers, aggressive drivers, speeders and seat belt violators on all major four-lane highways and rural paved roads.
The Highway Patrol will increase its manpower in Davidson County by 35 percent in July. The additional troopers will come from surrounding counties with their primary responsibility being enforcement.
According to statistics provided by the Highway Patrol, there have been 121 fatal collisions resulting in 133 fatalities in Davidson County since January 2002. There were 14 fatal collisions during the time period of January through May 2007, an increase of 40 percent as compared to the same time period last year and 18 fatalities, an increase of 63.6 percent as compared to the same time period last year.
A kickoff press event will be held at 10 a.m. July 2 at the Troop E District One office located at 2314 South Main St., Lexington.
Tonya Calvert, the mother of John Chadwick Calvert, will speak at the event. Calvert was one of four who died in a May 26 car crash on Joe Moore Road near Thomasville. Troop E Commander Vernon E. White and District First Sgt. Mark Ivey will also speak at the event.
For more information contact First Sgt. Mark Ivey at 336-249-0247 or Sgt. Henry B. King Jr. at 704-639-7595.