Four people died in traffic crashes over the 2019 Labor Day holiday weekend. Last year, there were 11 fatalities.
According to a news release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the 2019 counting period ran from 6 p.m., Friday, August 30, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, September 2.
In all, the patrol investigated 309 crashes, which included 107 injuries and the four fatalities. Troopers also charged 116 persons with Driving While Intoxicated and made 95 drug arrests.
On Missouri’s waterways, there were four injuries in 13 boating crashes. But there were no fatalities. There were 10 drivers charged with Boating While Intoxicated and 16 drug arrests.
Lloyd D. Randle, age 18, of Jefferson City, drowned after driving his vehicle into the Missouri River from the Noren Access on August 30.
During the 2018 counting period, the patrol investigated 257 traffic crashes, which included 119 injuries and seven of the 11 fatalities. Troopers made 113 arrests for Driving While Intoxicated. Also, troopers investigated seven boating crashes involving three injuries and no fatalities; and arrested 15 people for Boating While Intoxicated on the state’s rivers and lakes. There were no drownings over the 2018 holiday weekend.