Holiday Traffic Fatalities Go Up

Preliminary findings show increase in traffic deaths during Memorial Day Weekend

 LANSING-Preliminary reports indicate 15 people lost their lives in 11 separate traffic crashes during the 2018 Memorial Day holiday weekend. In comparison, 10 people were killed in 10 traffic crashes during the 2017 Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Of the 15 deadly crashes:

• Restraints were not used in one and unknown in four.
• Alcohol use was a known factor in two of the deadly crashes.
• Five involved motorcycles; a helmet was worn in two and it is unknown if a helmet was used in three.
• One victim was a pedestrian.

“These numbers are preliminary and only reflect those fatalities reported to the Michigan State Police as of 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 29,” stated Spl/F/Lt. Jim Flegel, MSP traffic safety specialist. “We continue to urge motorists to always use proper restraints and to make responsible driving decisions. Never operate a vehicle while impaired on alcohol or drugs and avoid all distractions.”
The 2018 Memorial Day holiday weekend ran from 6 p.m. on Friday, May 25, through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 28, 2018.