The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that there were seven fatalities in traffic crashes during the 2018 New Year’s holiday counting period from 6 p.m. on Friday, December 29, 2017 to 11:59 p.m. Monday, January 1, 2018.
According to the Highway Patrol, troopers investigated 229 traffic crashes, which included 77 injuries and five of the seven fatalities. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police and Sullivan Police Departments each investigated one traffic crash fatality during the counting period. In addition, troopers made 129 arrests for driving while intoxicated and 49 drug arrests during the same period. There were no boating incidents or drownings.
Three traffic crash fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring area; two traffic crash fatalities occurred in the Troop E, Poplar Bluff area, and one traffic crash fatality occurred in each of the Troop G, Willow Spring area and the Troop H, St. Joseph area.
Last year, over the 2017 New Year’s holiday counting period, Missouri law-enforcement agencies reported 539 traffic crashes, which injured 302 people. There were eight fatalities during the 2017 New Year’s holiday counting period. In addition, troopers made 103 arrests for driving while intoxicated, and there were no boating incidents or drowning.