Seven people were killed on Missouri roadways between Friday evening and last night – a decline of one traffic death from the previous New Year’s patrol period. Missouri Highway Patrol figures show that troopers investigated 229 traffic crashes during the 2018 holiday period – a significant decline from the previous one’s 539 vehicle accidents. Despite having more transportation options like Uber and Lyft, the number of DWI arrests increased by an additional 26 during this New Year time to 129.
There were three traffic fatalities in eastern Missouri’s Weldon Spring area, two in southeast Missouri’s Poplar Bluff region and one traffic death in southern Missouri’s Willow Spring and northeast Missouri’s St. Joseph area. Several of the victims killed were not wearing seat belts.
Troopers made 49 drug-related arrests this holiday, compared to 67 during the last New Year’s patrol period. There were no boating crashes or drownings during the past two New Year’s holiday times.
