Missouri traffic deaths trending down for third year

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

For the third year in a row, the Missouri Department of Transportation reports that traffic deaths across the state are down.

MoDOT preliminary data shows that from Jan. 1 to Aug. 24, 2025, there have been 577 people killed in crashes. This is down from 589 reported during the same time period last year.

The agency said in a release that while this number is encouraging, it is still too early to know if the trend will last until the end of the year.

“Gains on this front are incredibly encouraging, but we have a long way to go to achieve our ultimate goal, especially as the second half of the year typically presents its own challenges,” State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer Jon Nelson said in a release.

MoDOT says there have been more deaths reported during the second half of the year. This is due to road construction, school-related activities, shorter days, holiday travel and bad weather.

344 people died in traffic crashes after Sept. 1 in 2024, which is down from 364 during the same time period in 2023.