Preliminary statistics* indicate that nine people died in nine separate crashes on Kentucky roadways from Monday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011.

Eight of the fatalities involved motor vehicles and four of the victims were not wearing seat belts. Single-fatality crashes occurred in Calloway, Jefferson, Laurel, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Muhlenberg, and Mercer counties. The suspected use of alcohol was a factor in the Laurel County crash.

One scooter-involved crash occurred in Jefferson County and involved the suspected use of alcohol. The victim was not wearing a helmet

Through Oct. 23, 2011, preliminary statistics* indicate that 580 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 457 motor vehicle fatalities and 239 of those victims were not wearing seat belts. Forty-seven of those crashes involved a commercial motor vehicle. Fifty-seven crashes involved a motorcycle and thirty-two victims were not wearing helmets. Twenty-three crashes involved an ATV and nineteen victims were not wearing helmets. Thirty-eight crashes involved pedestrians and two involved a bicycle. Two crashes involved a scooter and one involved a horse-drawn vehicle. A total of ninety-seven 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).