The Missouri State Highway Patrol announced results from its special enforcement operation over the Thanksgiving Day weekend.
The project began November 23, and ran through November 27, 2016. Those days are designated as the peak travel days for the holiday period.
Interstate 29 was the roadway designated for this project and troopers were each assigned a 20-mile stretch of the interstate from the Buchanan County line to the Iowa state line. Troopers also were assigned to saturate high crash locations on U.S. highways within Troop H.
According to Captain James E. McDonald, commanding officer of Troop H in St. Joseph, as a result of the project, officers issued 119 citations and 254 warnings. Officers also made two felony warrant arrests, eight misdemeanor criminal arrests, and assisted 44 holiday travelers.
“Troopers were out in force over the Thanksgiving Day weekend and their vigorous enforcement efforts along with increased visibility helped keep Missouri motorists safe while traveling through Troop H,” stated Captain McDonald.
The State Highway Patrol also reported that across the state, 10 people died during the Thanksgiving holiday counting period which is from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 23, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 27.
Troopers investigated 400 traffic crashes, which included 124 injuries, and eight of the 10 fatalities. In addition, troopers arrested 103 people for driving while intoxicated and made 100 drug arrests during the 2016 Thanksgiving holiday counting period. During the 2015 Thanksgiving holiday, troopers investigated 544 traffic crashes, which included 150 injuries. Troopers arrested 99 people for driving while intoxicated that same weekend.
No fatality crashes were reported for the Troop H, Northwest Missouri area.
Two of the fatalities occurred in both the Troop A, Lee’s Summit, and Troop B, Macon, areas; Five of the fatalities occurred in Troop C, Weldon Spring, area; and one fatality occurred in the Troop G, Willow Springs, area.
There were no fatality traffic crashes to report on Wednesday or Thanksgiving Day.
There were no boating crashes, zero boating fatalities, no boating while intoxicated arrests, and no drownings reported during the 2016 Thanksgiving holiday counting period.