OSP: Thanksgiving was relatively safe on the highways

SALEM, Ore. -- It's been more than 30 years since Oregon had just 1 traffic fatality over the Thanksgiving weekend, Oregon State Police reported Monday.

Preliminary information shows the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday period matched the lowest recorded level since 1978, with one person reported to have died in a traffic-related incident on Oregon highways.

The one reported death happened 8:20 p.m. Friday when a 60-year-old Milwaukie woman died after being struck by a van while trying to cross McLoughlin Boulevard (Highway 99E) on foot in a Gladstone-area non-crosswalk location. OSP troopers are continuing the investigation into that incident.

Other preliminary information indicates OSP troopers arrested 53 DUII drivers, matching last year's holiday period total. The OSP Springfield Area Command office reported the highest number with 13 DUII arrests followed by the Portland Area Command office with 10 DUII arrests. The OSP Salem Area Command and The Dalles Area Command offices both reported 5 DUII arrests.

OSP troopers also reported:

• Making more than 5,400 traffic contacts
• Issuing more than 1,200 speeding tickets
• Assisting 465 disabled motorists
• Responding to more than 135 traffic crashes