Southington, OH - An increase in fatal car crashes in Trumbull County totals 24 deaths, already making this year the county's most dangerous year since 2012.

With this rise in accidents and the holidays just around the corner, Ohio State Highway patrol has teamed up with several other law enforcement entities to try to prevent anymore accidents.

"The highway patrol can't do it by itself," said Lieutenant Brian Vail of OSP. "You know, law enforcement, we all took an oath to protect the public and you know, no agency's great by itself. you know, we can get the objective done together," he said.

OSP is also reporting 939 injury crashes to date happening most frequently on Route 422, State Route 46, Interstate 80 and State Route 45.

Officials attribute these accidents to a number of things including, OVI arrests, distracted driving, speeding and not following proper safety protocols.

More than 70 percent of motorists killed were not wearing their seatbelts.

"The numbers are staggering," said Paul Monroe, Trumbull County sheriff. "What's more tragic is the fact that behind each one of those statistics is a person. A mother, a brother, a sister, leaving behind a family that will never be the same," he said.

OSP says safety is a shared responsibility and the road is safest when drivers drive sober, watch their speed, stay focused on the road not their phones and always wear a safety belt.