Kokomo – Saturday night, officers from the Indiana State Police, the Kokomo Police Department, and the Howard County Sheriff’s Department conducted a two hour checkpoint targeting impaired drivers at the intersection of Washington and Boulevards Streets in Kokomo.

During the two hour period, 156 vehicles passed through the checkpoint resulting in three men being arrested for driving while impaired. A fourth man was incarcerated on a Howard County criminal arrest warrant.  Officers also issued five citations for various traffic offenses.

The purpose of enforcement checkpoints is to remove impaired drivers from Indiana roadways before they cause needless pain, suffering, or death to innocent victims.

Impaired driving remains one of America’s deadliest problems. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009, 33,808 people were killed nationally in motor vehicle crashes. That same year, 10,839 people were killed in crashes that involved a driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. That means every 48 minutes someone died in a crash involving an impaired driver. In Indiana, in 2009, there were a total of 189,676 crashes, 8,855 of them were alcohol related, resulting in 168 deaths.

Motorists are encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 911. Give a vehicle description, location, and direction of travel. Never follow an impaired driver.

Arrested and Charges: (all four men were incarcerated in the Howard County Jail)

- Paul Williams, 40,  Kokomo, IN:   misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated
- Michael Bales, 39,  Sharpsville, IN:  operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a previous conviction within five years (felony)
- Solis  Elisio, 30, (no address): misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated
- Zachary Wright, 30, Kokomo, IN:   misdemeanor Howard County arrest warrant