Drinking causing many deaths locally

Alcohol related deaths are still a big problem in New Hanover and Brunswick County.

Highway patrol officers said since we live in a beach community, many people party, meaning more people end up drunk on the roads.

In 2008 there were almost 1,500 DWI arrests in New Hanover and Brunswick County. 149 crashes were alcohol related, three of them fatal.

Other people died walking down the road after having a few too many.

Five of the 13 local pedestrian deaths were alcohol related. First Sgt. Morris of the highway patrol said, “That indicates that we’ve got an issue here with pedestrians walking the highway impaired.”

Highway patrol says if you do drink, get a sober driver; and make sure you don’t wander into the street if you’ve been drinking. It’s more dangerous than you realize.