Missouri Traffic Fatalities Rise Over Holiday Weekend

The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated nine of the twelve traffic fatalities that happened over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Other fatalities were investigated by the Joplin Police Department and by the Springfield Police Department.

During the holiday counting period lasting from 6 p.m. on Friday, September 1st through 11:59 p.m., Monday, September, 4th the Patrol reported 306 crashes with 146 injuries, 119 DWI arrests, and 19 drug arrests. During the same period, there were 11 boating crashes resulting in 2 injuries, no fatalities, 2 BWI arrests, and no drownings.

During the 2022 counting period, the Patrol investigated 286 traffic crashes, which included 119 injuries and four of the seven fatalities. Troopers made 121 arrests for driving while intoxicated last year.

Also, over the Labor Day holiday 2022: Troopers investigated eight boating crashes involving one fatality and five injuries; and arrested five people for boating while intoxicated on the state’s rivers and lakes. One person drowned over the 2022 Labor Day holiday weekend.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story