CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : 5,381 Motorists Killed in 1989

The California Highway Patrol reported that 5,381 motorists died in traffic accidents in the state during 1989, exactly the same number as the year before and the lowest rate per miles of travel in the state’s history. The deaths occurred in more than 4,800 crashes statewide, the CHP said. The CHP also said the numbers of pedestrians and bicyclists killed declined significantly, motorcyclists’ deaths were up slightly and alcohol-related accidents stayed the same. According to the report, 2,509 people died in alcohol-related accidents, compared to 2,510 the year before; 236,831 people were injured in automobile crashes during 1989, compared to 235,491 in 1988; 117 bicyclists were killed, compared to 138 in 1988; 983 pedestrians were killed in 1989, down from 1,084 the previous year, and 620 motorcyclists died in 1989, compared to 603 the year before.