The State Highway Patrol reports eight people lost their lives in traffic wrecks during the three-day Memorial holiday weekend. The Patrol’s Lieutenant Tim Hull says a common thread weaving through the wrecks was drivers allowing something to turn their attention away from their driving. A one-vehicle wreck south of St. Louis on Sunday killed one and seriously injured five. Another single vehicle accident Monday afternoon claimed the life of one person and seriously injured six. Two wrecks on Sunday killed five. Last year, 15 people died in traffic wrecks during the Memorial Day weekend. It was also a busy weekend on Missouri’s waterways. The State Water Patrol reports three deaths on the waters: two drownings and one in a boating accident on Table Rock Lake. But the overall number of accidents was down from a year ago – 18 this year compared to 29 a year ago. Patrol officials credit a new boater safety requirement for the lower accident total.
