NORTH CAROLINA -- Onslow County is now one step closer to meeting their goal of zero preventable highway deaths.

• The Sheriff's Office was awarded a $1.4 million grant from the state to fund and operate a DWI task force
• Onslow County ranks sixth in the state for alcohol-related fatal crashes and fourth for alcohol-related serious injury crashes
• The task force will conduct high visibility enforcement and focus on prevention

Earlier this week, the sheriff's office was awarded a $1.4 million grant from the state to fund and operate a DWI task force.

According to the sheriff's office, Onslow County ranks sixth in the state for alcohol-related fatal crashes and fourth for alcohol-related serious injury crashes.

Once assembled, the task force will conduct high visibility enforcement and focus on prevention, which includes the dangers of driving while on prescription or illegal drugs.

"We want to get out into the school system. We want to get on bases where a lot of our young drivers live and let them know what the consequences of what alcohol impairment and driving will do," said Sheriff Hans Miller.

The Onslow County Board of Commissioners also committed $300,000 toward the DWI prevention team.