Nine killed in holiday traffic crashes across Missouri

Nine people were killed in traffic crashes during the Christmas holiday counting period this year despite far fewer crashes than the year before, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said Wednesday.

The patrol reported 294 crashes statewide between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Tuesday this year. The number killed was up from seven during the same period in 2017.

The agency also reported 80 injuries in crashes during the period and 106 DWIs.

Three of this year’s fatalities happened in Troop A, which covers western Missouri; two each were reported in eastern Missouri’s Troop C and northwest Missouri’s Troop H; and one each in southwest Missouri’s Troop D and south-central Missouri’s Troop I. Three of the fatalities happened inside the Blue Springs city limits, the patrol said.

None of the fatal crashes happened on Christmas Day.

In 2017 the patrol reported 491 total crashes including 125 injuries. Troopers arrested 92 people on suspicion of DWI last year.

Preliminary data from MSHP’s online arrest and crash reports showed that troopers in mid-Missouri arrested about 15 people for driving while intoxicated and responded to at least four crashes since Friday night.