FHP: 2021 the deadliest year on record on Orange County roads

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol says they’ve responded to more fatal crashes this year than ever before in Orange County.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

So far, FHP says they’ve investigated 135 fatal accidents in Orange County alone, surpassing the record of 128 set in 2018.

READ: 2-year-old killed, 8-year-old ‘critical’ after Lake Underhill Road crash

“Our traffic homicide investigators are tapped out,” FHP Lieutenant Kim Montes said. “Each investigator has upward to 24 fatal crashes that they’re investigating. Typically, they only have between 12 and 15.”

Safety is always in season.

During the holidays, FLHSMV is promoting safe-driving behavior and how to make travel a #SeasonofSafetyFL.

From buckling up and never driving impaired to vehicle road readiness, ensure the safety of yourself and others.
➡️https://t.co/BsjuJHhRkt pic.twitter.com/1EITcMWvth
— FLHSMV (@FLHSMV) November 15, 2021

With a month left to go, Montes says they’re expecting that trend to continue. She says a disturbing number of those crashes have been hit and runs.

“Right now, we have 21 fatal hit and run crashes in Orange County alone for the year, which is huge that 21 people decided to leave the scene of a fatal crash and leave somebody to die,” Montes said. “What it comes down to is that we are seeing more aggressive driving, more bad driving, and more careless driving from drivers, and that’s what’s causing these crashes.”

Montes says instances of people driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances have also increased.

READ: Motorcyclist killed in crash involving pickup truck on State Road 417

The Central Florida Chapter of “Mothers Against Drunk Driving” has recorded 234 crashes involving impaired drivers in Orange County this year in which 38 people have died and nearly 150 were injured.

MADD Executive Director Dan Marquith says he believes the emergence from the coronavirus pandemic may be to blame.

VIDEO: Post-pandemic life leading to increase in DUI incidents, MADD says The Central Florida Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving says the emergence from the pandemic is leading to a higher occurrence of drunk driving incidents. (Ashley Edlund, WFTV.com/WFTV)

“What we’re seeing is things are opening back up…Orlando is open for business,” Marquith said. “We have all these folks coming in, these transient guests coming to the Central Florida region. That’s going to increase pedestrians. It’s going to increase cashes just with the overall volume of vehicles on the roadway.”

To help cut down on fatal crashes, FHP says their troopers will be out on Central Florida roads patrolling every day to try to curb the loss of life.

VIDEO: 13-year-old hit by car at Brevard County bus stop

They’re asking anyone who witnesses aggressive driving to report it by dialing Star FHP (*347).

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.