Six people killed in Missouri during holiday counting period
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that six traffic fatalities occurred over the 2016 Christmas holiday counting period.
According to the report, the period spanned from 6:00 p.m. Friday, December 23 to 11:59 p.m. Monday, December 26. During that time, Troopers investigated 260 traffic crashes, which included 86 injuries and the six fatalities.
According to MSHP, four of the six fatalities involved the person not wearing a seatbelt. Two of those four were ejected from their car.
Doctors say a seatbelt can reduce your risk of a severe injury in a crash by 50 percent.
“It’s a very simple thing,” Doctor Christopher Sampson with MU Health said. “It takes a matter of seconds.”
Troopers also say it doesn’t how long you’ve been driving or where you are going, it’s imperitive to buckle up.
“Oobviously it is important for everybody,” Trooper Shawn Brazas said. “Mo matter what car you drive, where you’re going, who you are, what you’re driving skills are, it’s very imperative. The chances of the seatbelt preventing the injury or death that we see so often in crashes could be diminished severely if you just take the time to click it.”
Troopers say one reason many people don’t wear their seatbelts are because they claim it is not comfortable.
“Seatbelt usage isn’t meant to be comfortable, it’s supposed to be comforting,” Brazas said.
Doctors say people also believe the airbag will be able to save them.
“It’s definitely known an airbag itself is helpful but without the use of a seatbelt its definitely not going to save your life,” Sampson said.
Over the 2016 Christmas counting period, 68 motorists were arrested for driving while impaired, and 40 were arrested for drugs. The report also showed that there were no boating accidents or drownings in the state.
During the 2015 counting period, the Patrol investigated 282 crashes, which included 78 injuries and two fatalities.
There have been 61 more deaths in 2016 than compared to this time in 2015.
