JEFFERSON CITY --
Missouri saw one more traffic death during the Thanksgiving holiday period than last year.
Missouri Highway Patrol officials say there were 11 fatalities on Missouri roadways during the holiday counting period.
That started at six p.m. Wednesday and ended Sunday at midnight.
There were ten traffic deaths during that time last year.
The overall number of traffic crashes also increased from 390 in 2007 to 488 this year.
Highway Patrol officials say that could be due to the inclimate weather that began Saturday in some parts of the state.
"In looking at the overall picture of traffic crashes and fatalities for the whole year, we're still down about seven percent compared to last year so we're still headed in the right direction," says Missouri Highway Patrol Captain Tim Hull. "Its just unfortunate that we lose so many people over these holiday periods."
The number of DWIs given out dropped by one; down from 115 last year to 114.
Captain Hull also adds that most of the individuals killed on the road this Thanksgiving, seven out of the 11, were not wearing a seat belt.