Injury crashes, fatalities on Missouri roads this Fourth of July weekend

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's holiday counting period is coming to an end Sunday evening. Nearly 71 million people across the country were expected to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday weekend, according to AAA.

Travel has increased by 5% compared to 2023 and by 8% since 2019. AAA's Senior Vice President attributes this rise to summer vacations and the flexibility of remote work.

Although many people don't plan for it, travel can sometimes lead to unexpected accidents. AAA projected that a record 60.6 million travelers would be on the road by car. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, since July 3rd, 128 crashes have been reported statewide, including 9 fatalities, 34 serious injuries, and 41 moderate injuries.

In Troop F, the Missouri Highway State Patrol has recorded 12 crash reports since July 3rd. Sergeant Kyle Green noted that Troop F has been particularly busy during the holiday weekend.

"Troop F has been busy helping stranded motorists, investigating crashes, and making arrests for DWI and BWI over the Fourth of July holiday period," Green said.

Sgt. Green emphasized the importance of safety and vigilance during such high-traffic periods.

"We’ve had additional troopers on patrol to assist with the significant increase in traffic. We encourage families heading home today to slow down, avoid distractions, and make sure everyone is buckled up," Green said.

The highway patrol's counting period for the holiday weekend traffic incidents ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

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