Highway Patrol reports no traffic deaths during New Year’s holiday

by Christian Riley Dutcher, KOMU 8 Digital Producer

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said zero fatalities were reported during its New Year’s counting period, according to a news release Thursday.

In its preliminary statistics, the Highway Patrol reported zero traffic or boating fatalities and zero drownings over a period which began 6 p.m. Tuesday and ended at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.

In that time, state troopers investigated 44 crashes which resulted in 21 injuries. This is a significant decrease from the 5 fatalities and 59 injuries reported during the previous New Year’s counting period, which saw 115 crashes.

Troopers also issued 50 DWI citations, which also had decreased from the 139 issued in the 2023-24 New Year’s counting period.