By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Five people died and 59 were injured in 115 traffic crashes during the 2024 New Year’s holiday counting period, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The patrol also worked 139 DWIs between December 29th and January 1st. The number of accidents is down substantially across the state this year, compared to last year's New Years weekend when 345 people were hurt and six were killed in 925 total crashes statewide.
DWIs are up a bit this year. Troopers arrested 105 people for DWIs last year on New Years weekend - that's 34 fewer than this year's total.
Of the five fatal crashes in Missouri this New Year's weekend, none of them were in Troop H.
However, one occurred on New Year's Eve in Kansas City. Nineteen-year-old Hmdovzoo Vue of Kansas City died when his vehicle went off the road, struck the center guardrail and overturned.
The crash occurred on 71 Highway near Truman Road. Vue was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt.