Ten of 16 killed in fatal crashes over Thanksgiving holiday in Ohio not wearing seat belt

Cole Behrens, The Columbus Dispatch
·1 min read
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At least 16 people were killed in fatal traffic crashes in Ohio this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol.

During the five-day reporting period from Wednesday through Sunday, there were 15 fatal crashes that resulted in 16 people dead, according to provisional OHP data. Of the 16 killed this year, 10 were not wearing a seat belt and two were pedestrians. Six crashes involved impaired driving, the patrol said.

There were 17 people killed in traffic fatalities during the same period in 2021, and 11 in 2020 during the COVID pandemic.

A graphic map of the more than 13,200 incidents the Ohio Highway Patrol responded to from Wednesday through Sunday.
A graphic map of the more than 13,200 incidents the Ohio Highway Patrol responded to from Wednesday through Sunday.

Crashes and operating vehicles while under the influence incidents were both down more than 10% each this year compared to 2021, though citations issued for seatbelt violations increased 2%.

Read more: 15 people killed statewide in 2019 in Thanksgiving holiday crashes

During this holiday period, OHP troopers arrested 270 people for operating a vehicle while impaired and 130 for drug charges, both declines from the previous year. Citations were issued citations for 686 safety belt and 100 distracted driving violations. Troopers also assisted 1,542 motorists.

In total, the OHP responded to more than 13,200 incidents of all kinds this year. Franklin County had the second highest number of incidents, trailing only Warren County, according to OHP data.

@Colebehr_report

Cbehrens@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ten of 16 killed in holiday crashes in Ohio not wearing seat belts