Seven people died on Virginia roadways over the Thanksgiving holiday, sharply down from previous years, according to preliminary data from Virginia State Police.
Overall, state troopers worked 1,182 crashes, 129 of which resulted in injuries.
In 2023, 11 people were killed, and in 2022, 19 people died in fatal crashes.
The five-day period began at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 27 and concluded at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 1. The crashes occurred in Bath, Culpeper, Page, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren and Wythe counties.
Unfortunately, only two of the crashes had the person who died wearing a seatbelt. One accident involved an ATV.
“Virginia State Police is pleased that we continue to see the number of fatalities decrease, although we want that number at zero,” said Lt. Col. Matt Hanley, interim superintendent of Virginia State Police. “However, we still are seeing too many people not buckling up when they are in a vehicle. It can save lives.
Virginia State Police had increased enforcement efforts during peak travel times through Operation C.A.R.E. (crash awareness and reduction efforts).
Operate C.A.R.E. results
- Seatbelt violations: 404 citations for not wearing a seatbelt
- Child restraint violations: 116 citations for child restraint violations
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: 77 people were arrested for driving under the influence (one of which was for driving under the influence of drugs)
- Speeding: 3,638 drivers were cited for speeding
- Reckless driving: More than 1,700 drivers were cited for reckless driving
Funds generated from summonses issued by Virginia State Police go directly to court fees and the state’s Literary Fund, which benefits public school construction, technology funding and teacher retirement.
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Crystal Graham
