The number of boating crashes and drownings over the Independence Day weekend decreased, but traffic accidents jumped statewide compared to the same period last year.  State Patrol Captain John Hotz tells Missourinet there were six boating accidents over the weekend resulting in four injuries, no fatalities or drownings.

The Water Patrol division of the Missouri Highway Patrol.

The Water Patrol division of the Missouri Highway Patrol.

There were more than 300 traffic crashes statewide resulting in 140 injuries and ten fatalities during the holiday weekend.  All are increases from last year, when the patrol handled more than 260 vehicle crashes with 121 injuries and nine fatalities.

“We’re happy about the fact that we are down as far as boating accidents and drownings go,” said Hotz. “Of course, we were up slightly on road crashes. That’s something obviously we’ll keep focusing and keeping working on.”

Captain Hotz says the number of traffic fatalities has increased 6% this year on Missouri roadways. He says there tends to be a significant portion of deadly crashes that occur during the summer.

“These next six to eight weeks are pretty critical. There’s a lot of traffic out there and typically it’s the time when we have a lot of vehicle fatalities.”

There have been 65 fatality crashes so far this year, compared to 54 during the same time last year.