Over 100 DUI arrests in Chatham County during St. Patrick’s Day holiday, sheriff’s office says

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office says more than 100 people were arrested for driving under the influence during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period.

The sheriff’s office confirmed 127 DUI arrests in Chatham County over the past week, which officials said is 56 more arrests than the same period last year. The agency reported 84 of those arrests happened Saturday and Sunday alone.

EMS: Alcohol and Savannah’s “stairsteps” drove many calls

Chatham Emergency Medical Services says alcohol was a factor in many of the calls crews responded to during the holiday celebration — and it often mixed with the hazards of downtown’s steep stairways.

“There’s a reason they have that name,” said Chuck Kearns, CEO of Chatham EMS, referencing what some call Savannah’s “stone stairs of death.”

Kearns said stair-related falls were among the challenges for medics during the celebration. He said crews handled 33 hospitalizations from Friday afternoon through Wednesday morning.

“We know that people are drinking down there, we know they fell probably because of that,” said Tom Herndon, Chatham EMS communications chief.

Crowds a major issue Saturday night

Despite the arrests and injuries, Kearns said operations on the EMS side were largely smooth — though the size of the crowd, especially Saturday night, posed problems for reaching people who needed help.

“The one thing I did hear though was that Saturday night because the weather was so nice, was extraordinarily crowded, more so than people anticipated,” Kearns said.

Herndon said he was working in the crowd and continued responding to calls well past 4 a.m. He described difficulties moving through packed streets, even using an ATV with emergency lights and sirens.

“Very extensive crowds Saturday night, like…some of the biggest I’ve seen. Just trying to get through using an ATV with lights and sirens on it, they just wouldn’t move — five minutes to move 30 feet so it’s crazy,” Herndon said.

EMS treated 93 people; no major injuries reported

Chatham EMS says crews treated 93 people overall during the holiday period. Officials said none of the patients had major injuries, which they called a positive outcome given the crowd sizes and alcohol-related incidents.

Kearns said planning for next year’s parade and celebrations is already underway.