Traffic Crashes Skyrocket Over Thanksgiving

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 457 crashes occurred on Missouri roads over the Thanksgiving holiday. This number increased nearly one and a half times from 2020 statistics, which saw 307 crashes.

This year there were 114 injuries and nine deaths during the holiday weekend. During the 2020 Thanksgiving holiday counting period, troopers investigated 307 traffic crashes, which included 10 fatalities and 86 injuries.

The Highway Patrol’s Thanksgiving holiday counting period began at 6 pm Wednesday, November 24, and ended 11:59 pm Sunday, November 28. 

Troopers also arrested 125 people for driving while intoxicated this year and 72 for drug related offenses.

Troopers investigated all nine of the traffic crash fatalities. Three of the fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring, MO, area; three fatalities occurred in the Troop A, Lee's Summit, MO, area; and one fatality occurred in each of the Troop E, Poplar Bluff, MO, Troop G, Willow Springs, MO, and Troop H, St. Joseph, MO, areas.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story