MONTGOMERY – Alabama State Troopers investigated eight traffic deaths during the extended Fourth of July weekend, which was from Friday, July 1, to midnight Monday, July 4. Troopers assigned to Marine Patrol, however, reported no boating fatalities.

During the 96-hour holiday traveling period, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) partnered with local law enforcement agencies to bolster traffic  enforcement in an effort to reduce traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities. In addition, ALEA participated in this season’s safety campaigns Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Operation Dry Water. 

The fatal traffic crashes occurred in Butler, Calhoun, Cherokee, Hale, Jackson, Perry, Pickens and St. Clair counties. Two vehicle drivers, two vehicle passengers, three motorcyclists and one motorcycle passenger were killed. Of the four killed in vehicles equipped with seat belts, only one was using a seat belt. All four individuals on motorcycles were wearing helmets.

It is important to note this total is for Trooper-investigated fatalities. State statistics will be available at a later time.

During the previous year, the Fourth of July holiday travel period – which was a day shorter than this year’s extended period — Troopers investigated five fatalities on roadways and two boating fatalities.