HARRISBURG – Eight people were killed in crashes investigated by state police during the Labor Day holiday driving period, Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller said today. He noted that seven of the victims were not wearing seat belts.
“If everyone would buckle up each time they get in a vehicle, we would significantly reduce the number of people killed and injured on our highways,” Miller said.
In addition to the eight fatalities, 342 people were injured in the 739 crashes to which troopers responded during the holiday driving period (Friday, Aug. 31, through Monday, Sept. 3). Miller said 82 of the crashes, including four of the fatal crashes, were alcohol-related.
During last year’s Labor Day holiday driving period, five people were killed and 310 were injured in 870 crashes to which troopers responded.
Miller said troopers issued 8,814 speeding citations, arrested 321 for driving under the influence, cited 544 for failing to wear seat belts and issued 79 citations for not securing children in child safety seats this year.
He said the number of speeding citations represented a nearly 53 percent increase over the 5,774 speeding citations issued by troopers during last year’s holiday driving period.
Miller said the crash numbers cover only those incidents investigated by state police and do not include statistics on crashes to which other law-enforcement agencies responded.