Fewer people die on Missouri roads this Thanksgiving
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri State Highway Patrol counted four fewer deaths in traffic crashes during this year's Thanksgiving holiday period than last year.
Nine people died statewide in crashes between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday, the patrol said in a news release. The patrol's Troop F, which covers much of Mid-Missouri, reported no deaths, but 13 injuries in 54 crashes.
Statewide, one person died in a crash on Thanksgiving Day, three died on Friday, four died Saturday and one person died Sunday. Three people also drowned Saturday when their vehicles were swept off the road in southeast Missouri's Bollinger County.
The patrol reported no boating crashes.
The patrol investigated seven of this year's traffic crash deaths while other law enforcement agencies investigated the remaining two. This year troopers statewide investigated 404 crashes with 166 injuries compared to 543 crashes with 140 injuries in 2018.
Troopers also made 94 DWI arrests and 63 drug arrests over the counting period, according to the release. Troop F troopers made 10 DWI arrests and four drug arrests, according to a tweet.
