MONTGOMERY, AL -
During the 120-hour Fourth of July holiday safety period, which ran Wednesday, July 4, to Sunday, July 8, Alabama State Troopers investigated 386 traffic crashes, resulting in 161 injuries and nine deaths.
Based on preliminary information, it is unknown at this time whether alcohol was a factor in these nine crashes. Five of the eight individuals killed during this period were wearing seat belts, and one was not. Seat belts were not available for three of the individuals who died, including two motorcyclists.
Originally, the Alabama Department of Public Safety reported that troopers investigated no fatal crashes July 4. However, an individual who was injured July 4 in a St. Clair County crash died that evening as a result of those injuries, and troopers were not notified until later in the week.
Because the same holiday in 2011 was on a Monday and meant a long weekend for many travelers, it is difficult to compare those numbers with the 2012 totals. However, between June 30 and July 4, 2011, which is a similar five-day period that includes the Fourth and a weekend, troopers investigated 438 crashes, resulting in 207 injuries and 11 deaths.
During this year's Fourth of July safety period, troopers issued 3,708 citations for speeding, 1,517 citations for seat belt/child restraint violations, made 97 DUI arrests and assisted 357 motorists.
INFORMATION SOURCE: Alabama Department of Public Safety
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