Traffic fatalities were at or near a six-decade low last year but still averaged more than 15 traffic crashes and more than 2.5 fatalities every hour in 2009.

The Highway Patrol has tallied the numbers from its troopers and from other law enforcement agencies throughout the state. Patrol Spokesman Captain Tim Hull is a patrol spokesman.says the number of deaths, injuries, and crashes is down eight to ten percent.

Law enforcement agencies have counted 859 fatalities and more than 50-thousand-400 injuries in last year’s 140,800 traffic crashes. The numbers are likely to increase as injured people die this month and as more accident reports are filed.  The fatality numbers are below the total of 889 in 1950. Observers also note that the death rate per hundred thousand miles driven is substantially down from 1950s rate.

The Patrol has a goal of fewer than 800 fatalities by 2012.

Bob Priddy interviews Capt. Tim Hull  8:41  mp3  timfatal10

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