With record breaking temperatures and larger than expected crowds, the Washington State Patrol reported there were no fatality collisions, and only one serious injury collision, on King County highways during Seafair weekend.

The WSP conducted safety emphasis on both land and water, which resulted in the apprehension of 160 impaired operators and multiple other criminal arrests in King County during the three days of festivities.

During the land emphasis, troopers partnered with WSP’s aviation program and the motoring public to help patrol the highways for impaired drivers. During one stop on Saturday afternoonm a concerned citizen called 911 to report a possible DUI on I-5 in south Seattle. WSP pilots communicated with the 911 caller and were able to locate the vehicle. The airplane followed the vehicle and observed it nearly cause a couple separate collisions while watching it drift in and out of its lane. Pilots coordinated a response and ground troopers were able to stop the vehicle before it caused a collision. The driver was subsequently arrested for DUI.

This driver was one of 50 that were arrested on King County highways this weekend. Aircraft video of this stop will be available tomorrow morning upon request.

King County troopers partnered with marine units from other local agencies to make this year’s annual Seafair BUI emphasis a success. The emphasis resulted in the apprehension of 110 impaired vessel operators and no vessel collisions on Lake Washington.