Nine Killed, 206 Injured in Pa. Holiday Accidents

Nine people were killed in traffic crashes investigated by Pennsylvania State Police during the three-day Christmas holiday driving period, State Police Commissioner Col. Jeffrey Miller reported.

He said four of the fatalities resulted from a head-on collision Dec. 24
on I-95 in Bucks County.

In addition to the nine fatalities, 206 people were injured in the 584
crashes to which troopers responded. Col. Miller said 71 of the crashes, including two of the fatal crashes, were alcohol-related. Six of the nine people killed were not wearing seat belts, he said.

Col. Miller said troopers issued 1,018 speeding citations; arrested 142
people for driving under the influence; cited 56 operators for not wearing seat belts, and issued citations to 12 for not securing children in child safety seats.

This year’s official three-day Christmas holiday driving period covered
Dec. 24 through Dec. 26.

During the 2003 Christmas holiday driving period, which covered only two days, three people were killed and 126 were injured in 444 crashes investigated by State Police.

Col. Miller said the report does not include statistics on incidents to
which other law enforcement agencies in the state responded.