Thirteen people died in traffic crashes during the 2020 Labor Day holiday weekend.

According to the Missouri State Highway patrol, last year, there were nine fatalities.

The 2020 counting period ran from 6 p.m. Friday, September 4, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 7.

The highway patrol says it investigated 274 traffic crashes, including 124 injuries and 10 of the 13 statewide fatalities. There were 145 DWI and 89 drug arrests.

One of the fatal crashes happened in the KMMO listening area. On Friday, 43-year-old Chris Eye, of Sedalia, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Eye, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced deceased by Cooper County Coroner James Hurt at the scene. The crash happened in Pettis County west of Missouri Route BB.

On Missouri waterways, there were 15 boating crashes, which included six injuries and no fatalities. There were no drownings. There were seven BWI and 12 drug arrests.

During the 2019 counting period, the patrol investigated 284 traffic crashes, which included 118 injuries and four of the nine fatalities. Troopers made 115 arrests for driving while intoxicated. Also, troopers investigated 11 boating crashes involving four injuries and no fatalities; and arrested 10 people for boating while intoxicated. There were no drownings.