Troopers report seven fatalities during New Years holiday counting period

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported on Tuesday that there were seven fatalities during the New Year’s holiday counting period.

The period began on Friday at 6 p.m. and ended on Monday at 11:59 p.m.

Troopers said they investigated 229 traffic crashes, which included 77 injuries and five of the seven fatalities.

Troopers said they also made 129 arrests for driving while intoxicated and 49 drug arrests during the 2018 New Year counting period.

Three of the traffic crash fatalities occurred in the Weldon Springs area. Two of the crash fatalities happened in the Popular Bluff area and one happened in the Willow Spring area.

Last year during the counting period, troopers reported 539 traffic crashes, which injured 302 people. Troopers said there were eight fatalities last year and officers made 103 arrests for driving while intoxicated and 67 drug arrests.