Va. Police: 13 killed in crashes over holiday

Posted to: News Traffic - Transportation Virginia
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The Associated Press
© December 1, 2009

RICHMOND

Virginia State Police say 13 people died in traffic crashes over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Preliminary totals showed the 13 were killed in 13 crashes during the five-day counting period. That's up from 12 deaths during that time last year.

State Police said four of the 13 killed were not wearing seat belts. Alcohol was a factor in at least four of the crashes.

Three of those killed were pedestrians, and one was a motorcyclist.

During the holiday period, State Police cited more than 10,400 drivers for speeding, 2,600 for reckless driving and more than 130 for driving under the influence.

The holiday period began Wednesday and ran through Sunday.

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Seat belts

Submitted by lawrenceb82104 on Tue, 12/01/2009 at 8:51 pm.

Those stats do not speak to loudly for the seat belt laws. The truth is, that the dynamics of most fatal crashes are so incredible that the person would have been killed with or without a seat belt.

Behind 3 weeks +

Submitted by invabeach on Tue, 12/01/2009 at 12:49 am.

We received an expired plate citation in Newport News that was 3 days over for our new car we never received a usual notice from the DMV to renew.
Anyway we went to pay the ticket online and three + weeks later it is still not in the system.
Called and the lady said they have been writing so many tickets and are so backlogged it will be a while longer before it updates in the system so we can pay.
Seems like we are paying off the state budget shortfall one way or another now doesn't it ?

Wonder

Submitted by laura eichbaum on Mon, 11/30/2009 at 10:10 pm.

How many were driving on a suspended license or with NO insurance. Welcome to the American society of lawlessness and no respect for the rules!

~40,000 traffic fatalities annually in US

Submitted by areaman3000 on Mon, 11/30/2009 at 8:41 pm.

It seems driving is one of the most dangerous human activities.

Traffic Fatalities

Submitted by frankm59209 on Mon, 11/30/2009 at 7:57 pm.

13
More than that are killed in Newport News and Va beach in a week.

Pilot - killed?

Submitted by hatterasnc on Mon, 11/30/2009 at 7:19 pm.

I feel for all of the personal and family's losses.
I have been there.
Please correct the headline and text.
Killing in a premeditated, willful and wanton act.
Unfortunately, these persons died due to crashes/accidents.
As tragic as these deaths are, to the families and friends, please do not continue to use this term except as defined for its' use.