More than 500 Die on Minnesota Roads in 2007

Preliminary figures show 503 people died in Minnesota traffic crashes in 2007, which the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said is the first increase in the state’s traffic death toll since 2002.

There were 494 deaths on Minnesota roads in 2006, the lowest death count since 1945.

The 2007 figures include: 396 vehicle occupants, 57 motorcyclists, 31 pedestrians, five snowmobilers, four farm tractor operators, three people driving motor scooters, two ATV drivers and two passenger van occupants.

The department also said the 2007 count includes 12 of the 13 people who died during the Aug. 1 collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge and six motorists killed on roads during the flooding in southeastern Minnesota.

The 2007 death count may expected rise as the state continues to receive reports of traffic fatalities from 2006.