Traffic committee looks at 3 fatal crashes

The Lorain County Traffic Fatality Review Committee met Dec. 5 to review three fatal traffic crashes that occurred in Lorain County between Aug. 8 and Oct. 29, according to a news release.

The committee noted the following about these crashes:

• Two separate crashes involved a bicyclist who was killed, resulting in a total of two bicyclist deaths. Both bicyclists were under the influence of alcohol and drugs, wearing neither a helmet nor reflective clothing, the release said.

One of the bicyclists was hit by a driver who also was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

• One of the crashes involved a motorcyclist’s passenger who was wearing protective gear and a helmet.

• All three crashes reviewed involved individuals older than the age of 24.

In order to make Lorain County roads safer, the committee discussed sharing educational materials by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s materials emphasize that “if you feel different, you drive different,” the release said.

Getting behind the wheel after using marijuana or other drugs puts everyone on the road at risk for a deadly crash, according to the release.

This risk also applies when riding a bicycle on the road while impaired.

In 2017, 31 fatal crashes occurred on Lorain County roads, and 33 people died in those crashes, according to the release.

As of Dec. 11, 18 fatal crashes occurred on Lorain County roads, and 19 people have died in this year’s crashes, the release said.