Police arrest 26 for DUI

During the week of Oct. 19-25, Hawaii Island police arrested 26 motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

Five were involved in traffic crashes.

Two of the motorists arrested were younger than 21.

The numbers of arrests by district were: South Hilo, eight; Puna, six; Kona and South Kohala, four each; Ka‘u, two; Hamakua and North Kohala, one each.

So far this year, there have been 875 DUI arrests compared to 941 during the same period last year, a decrease of 7 percent.

There have been 1,241 major accidents so far this year compared to 1,297 during the same period last year, a decrease of 4.3 percent.

So far this year, there have been 16 official traffic fatalities on Hawaii Island compared to 11 during the same period last year, an increase of 45.5 percent.

To date, 10 of those fatalities have been linked to impaired driving — six to drugs and four to a combination of drugs and alcohol.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide, police said.