Ohio Labor Day Road Fatalities Lowest in 5 Years

Authorities say preliminary numbers show 10 people died in fatal traffic crashes in Ohio over the Labor Day weekend, the fewest number in five years.

The state Department of Public Safety says the number is one fewer than in 2010 and 14 fewer than 2007, when fatalities had reached a five-year high. The data measures traffic crashes over the four-day holiday period ending Monday night.

Data also shows that the number of fatalities that were alcohol-related – three of the 10 – is the fewest in five years.

The state says troopers arrested nearly 700 drivers on charges of driving while intoxicated, an increase of about 14 percent from 2010. Overall traffic enforcement increased about 12 percent, with troopers issuing citations in 27,000 traffic stops.