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WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Tenn. - Officials say they saw a 300% increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities last year. They'll be out in full force starting Friday, during one of the busiest weekends of the year for drunk driving arrests. Franklin County law enforcement is joining forces with the Governor's Highway Safety Office for what they're calling a weekend of focused enforcement to keep drunk drivers off the road Super Bowl weekend. You might not see them, but they'll be out there patrolling Franklin County highways this Super Bowl weekend. They say they'd rather arrest a drunk driver than to have to deliver a devastating message to an innocent family after it's too late.
"Delivering a death message to somebody who's been killed in an impaired driving crash is probably the toughest thing a law enforcement officer can do," says the Governor's Highway Safety Office's Clint Shrum.
Shrum says Franklin County saw a 300% increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2012 from the year before, and saw the highest total fatalities since 2007.
"We've seen a spike and we're just trying to figure out what's causing it and we're going to take action," says Shrum.
Shrum says 27% of the county's 12 traffic fatalities last year were alcohol-related. That's why they're planning to strengthen their efforts to find drunk drivers Super Bowl weekend and get them off the roads.
"I love it and I wish they would do it more often," says Deborah Bell.
Bell and her daughter Wendy don't work in law enforcement, but say they're joining their cause.
"Police are not everywhere at every moment," says Bell. "We have to step up and do what's right for everyone, I believe."
They plan to be on the lookout for weaving cars this weekend and report any drunk drivers to the police.
"My mom could be out there on the road," says Bell. "My daughter could be out there on the road. I'm not taking that chance."
The Governor's Highway Safety Office says this year has already seen 2 traffic fatalities in Franklin County. They believe one of them may have been alcohol related.
"Delivering a death message to somebody who's been killed in an impaired driving crash is probably the toughest thing a law enforcement officer can do," says the Governor's Highway Safety Office's Clint Shrum.
Shrum says Franklin County saw a 300% increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2012 from the year before, and saw the highest total fatalities since 2007.
"We've seen a spike and we're just trying to figure out what's causing it and we're going to take action," says Shrum.
Shrum says 27% of the county's 12 traffic fatalities last year were alcohol-related. That's why they're planning to strengthen their efforts to find drunk drivers Super Bowl weekend and get them off the roads.
"I love it and I wish they would do it more often," says Deborah Bell.
Bell and her daughter Wendy don't work in law enforcement, but say they're joining their cause.
"Police are not everywhere at every moment," says Bell. "We have to step up and do what's right for everyone, I believe."
They plan to be on the lookout for weaving cars this weekend and report any drunk drivers to the police.
"My mom could be out there on the road," says Bell. "My daughter could be out there on the road. I'm not taking that chance."
The Governor's Highway Safety Office says this year has already seen 2 traffic fatalities in Franklin County. They believe one of them may have been alcohol related.
Thursday, January 31 2013, 09:40 PM CST
Tennessee News
Tenn. Powerball ticket worth $1 million
May 19, 2013 18:44 GMT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Powerball ticket sold in Tennessee barely missed winning a share of an estimated $590.5 million prize. But the ticket has a nice consolation prize worth $1 million.
Officials say the Powerball ticket worth $1 million was sold in Chattanooga.
There's no word yet on who won.
A Powerball ticket sold at a supermarket in Zephyrhills, Fla., matched all six numbers selected Saturday night for the estimated $590.5 million prize. It's the highest Powerball jackpot in history.
The winning numbers were 10, 13, 14, 22 and 52, with a Powerball of 11.
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