December 26, 2008 - Traffic Fatalities Decrease During Lifesaver Weekend

Contact: Sgt. Jill McKelvey, (517) 336-6121

LANSING. The Michigan State Police (MSP) confirmed today that preliminary reports indicate four people lost their lives in four separate traffic crashes during the 2008 Operation C.A.R.E. Lifesaver Weekend. In comparison, five people died in traffic crashes during the 2007 Operation C.A.R.E. Lifesaver Weekend.

Of the four fatalities, three were snowmobilers. The one car-crash victim was restrained by a safety belt. Alcohol was a known factor in one of the four fatal crashes.

"These numbers are preliminary and reflect only those fatalities reported to the MSP as of noon today," stated Capt. Robert R. Powers, Jr., commander of the MSP Traffic Safety Division. "Similar to this last weekend, Michigan has experienced fewer fatalities overall when compared to last year. This decrease can be attributed to the cooperative effort between law enforcement and the motoring public, and it is our hope this trend will continue into 2009."

The 2008 Operation C.A.R.E. Lifesaver weekend ran from 6 p.m. on Friday, December 19, through midnight on Sunday, December 21, 2008.