RICHMOND - Six people were killed in crashes during the weekend in Virginia, the lowest total of Memorial Day weekend deaths registered on state roads since 2014, according to Virginia State Police.
The Memorial Day weekend fatalities occurred in Newport News, and the counties of Chesterfield, Grayson, Nelson, Pittsylvania and Rockbridge. The Newport News crash claimed the life of a man operating a dirt bike, police said. Of the remaining five fatalities, four victims were not wearing seat belts. Three of them were ejected, according to state police.
"This decrease in the Memorial Day weekend traffic fatalities and the slowing of traffic deaths for 2018 are both proof that we can save lives on Virginia’s highways by working together,” said Col. Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “The Virginia State Police, in collaboration with our local police and sheriff’s offices, will continue our stepped up education and enforcement efforts as we head into the busy summer travel months. We simply ask for Virginians to do their part by always buckling up, complying with speed limits, driving distraction free and never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
As a result of increased presence on the highways during the heavily-traveled holiday weekend, 99 impaired drivers were arrested and charged with DUI. In addition, state troopers cited 8,004 speeders and 2,360 reckless drivers.
State police also cited 1,038 occupant restraint violations, with 210 of those issued to adults for failing to safely secure a juvenile passenger in a child safety seat, booster seat or seat belt, police said.
Funds generated from summonses issued by Virginia State Police go directly to court fees and the state’s Literary Fund, which benefits public school construction, technology funding and teacher retirement.
Virginia State Police will continue its enforcement efforts related to the ongoing “Click It or Ticket” campaign. The two-week concentrated education and enforcement initiative began May 21 and runs through June 3.
Of the 843 total traffic deaths in 2017 in Virginia, 351 victims were unrestrained.