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'Black Wednesday' increases danger on the roads

Central Ohio bar owners say 'Black Wednesday' has evolved into a popular night to party, but law enforcement says Thanksgiving Eve also kicks off a dangerous holiday driving season.

Holiday celebrations mean more OVI arrests and alcohol-related crashes on the roads according to Ohio law enforcement.

The most wonderful time of the year is also the most painful time for Bob Kent.

"I call it a membership in a club you wouldn't want your worst enemy. It's that bad," said Kent.

His son was killed by a drunk driver on Christmas Day 2004.

"We received notice around ten o' clock Christmas morning that our son, Brandon Kent, and Lucas Carmean, and Josh Worthington were killed by a drunk driver going the wrong way on the freeway," said Kent. "Just in an instant. They say both cars were traveling 65 or 70 and it was a direct head on impact."

Brandon Kent was only 21 years old when a drunk driver's clouded decision to get behind the wheel ended in death. Bob Kent says he remembers facing his son's killer in court.

"He looked at us and he said I thought I was okay. He probably did," said Kent. "and he was sentenced to 20-years in prison. I tell everybody nobody wins. Everybody loses."

CrimeTracker 10 has learned the holidays can be as dangerous as they are festive.

The National Transportation Highway Safety Administration says OVI arrests are at their highest between Thanksgiving and the end of New Year's weekend.

The Ohio Highway Patrol says in 2015, five people lost their lives in alcohol-related crashes during Thanksgiving weekend, which is the most heavily traveled holiday period.

The NTSB reports on average 36 people are killed every day in drunk driving crashes across the country. During the three days leading up to Christmas, that number climbs to 45, and spikes again to 54 deaths per day during the New Year's holiday.

At Byrne's Pub in northwest Columbus, owner Pat Byrne was encouraging safe rides long before ride shares like Uber and Lyft. On St. Patrick's Day 2008, Byrnes handed out free cab vouchers to revelers.

On Black Wednesday Byrnes Pub offered discounts on customers ride share fare.

"We don't want our customers to leave here and drive drunk. It isn't good for us. It isn't good for anyone," said Byrne.

Bob Kent will spend part of his Thanksgiving visiting his son at the cemetery.

He urged people celebrating the holidays to plan a safe ride home before they ever leave the house so that alcohol doesn't cloud judgment later in the evening.

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