Sixteen die on
Kentucky roadways

Preliminary statistics* indicate that sixteen people died in fourteen separate crashes on Kentucky roadways from Monday, Aug. 22, through Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011.

Eleven of the fatalities involved motor vehicles and four of the victims were not wearing seat belts. Single-fatality crashes occurred in Boone, Hardin, Marshall, Perry, Pulaski, Scott, and Washington counties. The crash in Scott County involved the suspected use of alcohol.

Two double-fatality crashes occurred in Marion and Muhlenberg counties.

Five motorcycle-involved fatal crashes occurred in Hopkins, Laurel, Simpson, Union, and Warren counties.

Through August 28, 2011, preliminary statistics* indicate that 452 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways during 2011. This is fifty less fatalities than reported for the same time period in 2010. There have been 359 motor vehicle fatalities and 193 of those victims were not wearing seat belts. Thirty-one of those crashes involved a commercial motor vehicle. Forty-three crashes involved a motorcycle and twenty-three victims were not wearing helmets. Seventeen crashes involved an ATV and fifteen of the victims were not wearing a helmet. Twenty-nine crashes involved pedestrians and two involved a bicycle. One crash involved a scooter and one involved a horse-drawn vehicle. A total of seventy-two fatalities have resulted from crashes involving the suspected use of alcohol.

Citizens can contribute to highway safety by reporting erratic drivers to the Kentucky State Police toll-free at 1-800-222-5555. Callers will remain anonymous and should give a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel and license number if possible.

*These statistics are still preliminary as KSP waits for all local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to report any crashes and fatalities that may have occurred in their areas. Crash data for this report is generated from the Kentucky Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).