Alabama State Troopers investigated a total of nine deaths consisting of five traffic fatalities and four drownings – over the long Memorial Day Holiday weekend.

The traffic crashes involved three drivers, one passenger and one motorcyclist – with those accidents taking place in Autauga, Hale, Lee and Mobile counties.  That motorcyclist WAS using a helmet at the time of the fatal crash – however, three of the four people killed while traveling in vehicles equipped with seat belts were NOT buckled up.  Monday May 25th was the only zero-traffic fatality day of the four-day weekend.

Those drownings involving investigations by Alabama Law Enforcement personnel include two at Orange Beach in Baldwin County; one at the Little River Canyon National Preserve at the Cherokee/DeKalb County line; and one at Lake Martin in Tallapoosa County

Boat crashes investigated by ALEA’s Marine Patrol ranged from single-vessel property-type crashes to boat fires and multi-vessel crashes involving injuries, in a variety of locations; all together, ten boat incidents were investigated.

This year’s Holiday Weekend Travel Period began at 12:01am Friday, May 22nd, and ended at midnight, Monday, May 25th.  The numbers quoted don’t include crashes investigated by other law enforcement agencies.

In May of 2019 during the same extended holiday, troopers investigated 343 traffic crashes resulting in six deaths, while troopers in ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division investigated a total of eight boat crashes resulting in two fatalities, but no drownings.

This year’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign will start on Monday, June 15th and end on Sunday June 28th.  Everyone is reminded to use seat belts no matter how short their trip and to use personal flotation devices while on the water.

(AL.COM/www.al.com)