Five Fatalities Reported During 2026 New Year Holiday

Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, released preliminary statistics for the 2026 New Year’s holiday traffic period, revealing a sobering start to the year on Missouri roads. Between 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 4, 2026, law enforcement responded to 187 traffic crashes statewide. These incidents resulted in 87 injuries and claimed five lives.

Highway Patrol troopers arrested 112 individuals for driving while intoxicated (DWI) during the same period. Notably, there were no boating crashes or drownings reported over the holiday, marking a safer outcome for Missouri’s waterways.

Comparing these figures to the previous New Year’s holiday period in 2024-2025, there was one fatality and 118 injuries in 264 reported traffic crashes. The reduction in total crashes and injuries this year comes with a concerning increase in fatalities.

The statistics provided are preliminary and may change if additional fatalities are reported or if other law enforcement agencies submit late information. Further details regarding specific crashes and arrests can be found on the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s official website.

It is important to note that the New Year’s holiday counting period varies each year, lasting between 1.25 and 4.25 days depending on which day of the week the holiday falls.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.