The Michigan State Police (MSP) confirmed today that preliminary reports indicate five individuals lost their lives in five separate traffic crashes during the 2007 Operation C.A.R.E. Lifesaver weekend.  In comparison, five people died in traffic crashes during the 2006 Operation C.A.R.E. Lifesaver weekend.

The 2007 Operation C.A.R.E. Lifesaver weekend ran from 6 p.m. on Friday, December 21, through midnight, on Sunday, December 23, 2007.

"These numbers are preliminary and only reflect those fatalities reported to the Michigan State Police as of noon today," stated Capt. Robert R Powers, commander of the MSP Traffic Safety Division.  "Even though these figures show no change in fatalities from this same period last year, we are encouraged by the cooperative effort between law enforcement and the motoring public that kept these numbers from rising.  It is our hope traffic fatalities will show a decrease into 2008."       

Alcohol was a known factor in two of the five fatal crashes.  Out of the five victims, one was known to have been restrained by a safety belt.