CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) -
Local law enforcement is gearing up for the long Fourth of July weekend. In fact, starting Saturday and running until July 8, the Department of Public Safety will increase their DWI patrols.
State troopers said they will be patrolling high-risk locations at times when alcohol-related crashes are most frequent, in hopes of saving lives.
"This is why the Department of Public Safety is beefing up our patrols out in the rural areas," said Charlie Ramirez with the DPS. "We are going to see if we can stop that person that decides to drink and drive, before they run into somebody, that runs into somebody that's an innocent driver or family, or kills themselves."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that the July 4 holiday ranks number one nationally for fatal, alcohol-related crashes, and according to the Texas Department of Transportation, more than 1,000 Texans are killed each year as a result of impaired drivers.
