Bad weather and poor decisions: two main factors of heightened holiday crashes

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Several superior crashes person happened successful Fresno County and the surrounding country successful caller weeks, and authorities accidental determination are 2 large factors: mediocre upwind and mediocre decision-making.

Ahead of New Year's, Central California is bracing for different rainmaker to plague vale roads, arsenic the portion is recovering from the impacts of past week's Christmas storm.

Local instrumentality enforcement is urging drivers to usage caution up of different engaged holiday.

"When you get fog, you get rain... dilatory down," said Fresno County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Tony Botti.

That proposal whitethorn look simple, but California Highway Patrol officers accidental failing to set to mediocre conditions has been the starring origin of crashes successful caller weeks.

"When there's thing connected the crushed -- whether it beryllium snow, ice, water, mud... I had 1 crash, actually, that progressive manure, thing that being connected the crushed and you spot it; you request to dilatory down," said CHP Officer Anthony Daulton.

But authorities accidental weather-related crashes aren't the lone interest this clip of year.

The caller twelvemonth includes celebrations, and with them, an summation successful impaired driving -- thing that claimed aggregate lives successful the Central Valley this vacation season.

Monday, a hubby and woman were killed adjacent Coalinga, erstwhile CHP investigators accidental 30-year-old Shawn Borecha swerved and collided with the mates head-on.

"It's highly sad, due to the fact that you are virtually seeing families' lives torn apart. You look astatine this caller mates successful the Coalinga area: somebody's missing their parents now. And this could person each been prevented," said Botti.

This comes aft CHP reported astir 300 radical were arrested for suspected DUI statewide during the vacation enforcement period.

"One of the astir selfish things you tin bash is person excessively overmuch to portion and past beryllium persistent of getting down the wheel. Do you recognize however galore radical you're putting successful danger? It's 1 happening if you privation to wounded yourself. But we cognize that the radical connected the road, they're defenseless against it," Botti said.

Authorities accidental that if you're not successful the close authorities of caput to thrust oregon the upwind conditions are poor, it's important to person a plan. They suggest leaving early, driving slowly, and, if necessary, uncovering a thrust up of time.