1 Fatality Reported in Santa Clarita Valley

One person died in a Santa Clarita Valley traffic accident during Labor Day weekend, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The individual died in Newhall, CHP Officer Pablo Torres said. Overall, 13 people died in traffic accidents in Los Angeles County, an increase from three fatalities last year.

Statewide, fatal traffic accidents over the Labor Day holiday fell 44%, to 38 from 68 last year.

The local increase in fatal traffic accidents occurred even though CHP officers stepped up their patrols over the busy weekend.

“Even though we increased our visibility, there are always people out there who will drink and drive or drive hazardously,” Torres said.

The CHP arrested 75 people suspected of driving drunk in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys between 6 p.m. Friday and midnight Monday.

Of those, 41 arrests were made in the West Valley, 26 in the Newhall area and eight in the Antelope Valley.

A total of 346 drunk-driving arrests were made throughout Los Angeles County, down 31% from 503 arrests over the Labor Day weekend last year.

Patrol officers made 1,702 arrests statewide, an 18% decline, compared with the 2,070 arrests they made during the same period a year ago.

The Los Angeles Police Department reported one traffic fatality in Encino and four fatalities in Los Angeles County.

Figures on the number of Labor Day traffic accidents handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were not available Tuesday.