NORFOLK
Traffic deaths dropped significantly over the Thanksgiving holiday in Virginia and North Carolina, according to State Police and Highway Patrol statistics.
In Virginia, nine people died in nine crashes between last Wednesday and Sunday, compared with 19 fatalities in 2007. That's the lowest total since 2002, when nine people were killed, State Police said.
In North Carolina, seven people died over the same period, down from 21 people the year before.
In Virginia, fatal crashes happened in Southampton, Rockingham, Fairfax, Carroll, Louisa, Powhatan, Prince William and Rockbridge counties, according to State Police. Alcohol was a factor in two of the crashes.
Authorities said that in a Carroll County crash, a state trooper discovered that the driver - charged with DUI, resisting arrest and possession of a firearm - was wanted in connection with a murder in Staunton.
Virginia State Police issued 9,921 summonses for speeding, 2,810 for reckless driving, 188 for driving under the influence and 916 for not wearing seat belts. In North Carolina, state troopers issued 18,477 speeding citations.
National statistics were not available as of Monday.
Jim Washington, (757) 446-2536, jim.washington@pilotonline.com
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