Five traffic deaths in Missouri over the Christmas counting period

Five people died in traffic crashes over the 78-hour Christmas holiday counting period. The counting period began at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and continued through 11:59 p.m. Sunday. The Missouri Highway Patrol investigated 175 traffic crashes that resulted in 55 injuries and 5 fatalities. The patrol arrested 62 people for driving while intoxicated. During last year’s 30-hour Christmas counting period, there were 278 crashes, 3 fatalities, and 111 injuries. Troopers arrested 20 people for driving while intoxicated last year. There were no boating crashes or drownings over the Christmas counting period this year.