Fourth of July traffic fatalities sharply decrease from last year
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NASHVILLE — After the 2014 Fourth of July holiday period, the THP is reporting a decline in deadly traffic accidents. Early reports say seven people were killed in traffic crashes across the state during the 96-hour holiday, which is a decrease from 19 during the 2013 Fourth of July period. This year‘s holiday vehicular fatalities included five vehicle occupants and two motorcyclists. Three of the victims were not wearing seat belts and one of the fatalities was alcohol-related. State troopers arrested 119 individuals on suspicion of DUI and issued 1,414 seat belt citations during the 96-hour holiday period. If this year‘s preliminary figures stand, it would rank as one of the lowest number of traffic deaths during the Fourth of July holiday period on record. The highest number of vehicular fatalities occurred during the July 4th holiday period in 1996. Twenty-seven people died in traffic crashes that year.
