Seven killed on state roads over Memorial Day weekend

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Seven people died on Missouri roads over the Memorial Day weekend, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said Tuesday.

State troopers were called to 275 crashes from 6 p.m. Friday to 11:59 p.m. Monday, the patrol says in a news release. Troopers reported 161 injuries and 128 DWI arrests.

No one was killed on the water despite seven boating crashes with seven injuries. Six were arrested for boating while intoxicated.

The number of crashes and deaths is down compared to 2023, when 13 people died and 403 were hurt in 990 traffic crashes.

One of those killed in crashes over the weekend was Crystal Hooper, 37, of Monroe City. She died Sunday when her vehicle went off the road, hit an embankment and overturned on Highway 61 near Palmyra, the patrol says.

One of the deadly crashes happened on Highway 65 in Benton County and killed an 89-year-old Independence, Missouri, man.