Highway Patrol: Eight deaths, 115 injured, 113 DWI arrests during Thanksgiving counting period

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said on Monday that eight people died on during the Thanksgiving counting period, which lasted from 6 p.m. Wednesday through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release.

In addition, there were 115 people injured, 113 arrests made for driving while intoxicated, 414 crashes and 35 drug arrests. There were no boating crashes or fatalities, but there were two drownings reported.

Troopers investigated all eight of the traffic crash fatalities. Four of the fatalities occurred in the Springfield area; two of the traffic fatalities occurred in the Lee’s Summit area; and one traffic fatality occurred in each of the Macon and Weldon Spring areas.

During the 2021 Thanksgiving counting period, troopers investigated 381 traffic crashes, which included nine fatalities and 134 injuries. Statewide, 12 people died and 540 people were injured in 1,365 traffic crashes over last year’s Thanksgiving holiday. Troopers arrested 127 people for DWI.