Despite the grim danger of drunk drivers on the road, especially on the night of New Years Eve, this year authorities claimed numbers are relatively low.

In Greenwich, police did not make any drunken driving arrests on the eve of Dec. 31 or in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, according to the police department.

Lt. Daniel Allen of the Greenwich Police Department attributed the low number to the more people choosing to stay home due to the rough economy, the dangerous road conditions, and the cold temperatures.

“A lot of people aren’t going out and spending money,” said Allen.

State Police made 15 drunken driving arrests on New Years Eve.

“This year it was a little lower than normal,” said Sgt. Chris Johnson of the State Police. “You have to consider that there was a major storm and also the extreme cold played a part in less people being out and traveling.”

Despite the low numbers of peoples driving under the influence, Johnson said police have been out dealing with more accidents than usual due to the inclement weather.

“I think given the weather, the snow and the icing conditions, that is going to increase the number of accidents,” said Johnson.

There were 336 accidents reported on New Year’s Eve by state police, two of them fatal and 39 with injuries, according to a state police press release. There were also 103 speeding arrests, police said.

Although Christmas Eve and New Years Eve did not see many arrests, the police claim they have made several arrests surrounding the holiday. During Christmas, State Police also stepped up their targeted patrols to combat drunken driving during “Operation Santa.” Between Dec. 24 and Dec. 27 there were 61 drunken driving arrests, police said. There also were 343 accidents for the three-day period. Drinking and driving under the influence is always a major concern and designated drivers are strongly suggested to wear a seat belt.

According to authorities, a man who was speeding in a stolen car while severely intoxicated on this past New Years Eve morning. He proceeded to smash into a car waiting at a stop light, which instantly killed the driver behind the wheel.

Fifty-seven-year-old Gail Ann Horne died in the wreck at the scene of the North Davis Highway and Creighton Road crash. The collision occurred around 9 a.m. on New Years Eve. The passengers in the other four surrounding vehicles were not seriously hurt in the tragic accident.

Police say Jeffrey Boggan, a 24-year-old, ran from the scene after the 2008 Hyundai he was driving crashed into Horne’s 2007 Honda. He suffered only minor injuries. After the crash, Boggan went on foot to Ciampaglia’s San Dollar Circle home, which is a little more than a mile east of the crash site, according to the arrest report. He attempted to convince her that the SUV was stolen from a nearby Tom Thumb on Creighton Avenue and Lanier Drive. Ciampaglia called the authorities to make the false report while Boggan falsely identified himself and also spoke with the dispatcher. After the conversation ended he then ran out of the house through Ciampaglia’s utility room, jumped a fence and ran away, Ciampaglia told investigators. He ran about three blocks south to the 1700 block of John Carroll Drive to the home of Mark Jones. Within 10 minutes, Jones said, about a dozen police cars and a K-9 unit arrived.

After Boggan was arrested about an hour later he was transported without bond to the Escambia County Jail. Boggan faces charges of DUI-manslaughter, leaving the scene with death, driving without a license, grand theft auto and resisting arrest.

Boggan was scheduled to appear before Escambia County Judge Joyce Williams at 1:30 p.m. via video conference from the Escambia County Jail. 

Judge Williams will decide whether a bond will be appropriate for Boggan who is currently being held without bond on charges of DUI-manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash, resisting arrest, grand theft auto and driving without a license.