DWI fatalities doubled in county since 2013

In 2013, according to the New Mexico Department of Transportation and University of New Mexico, 23 people died in wrecks related to alcohol in Bernalillo County. In 2016, the local DWI death toll had more than doubled, to 52. Each year since 2013, about half of all traffic fatalities in the county have involved alcohol. And the percentage of those not wearing seat belts has steadily climbed – from 18 percent in 2013 to 26 percent in 2014 to 28 percent in 2015 and to 29 percent in 2016.