Published on Thursday, December 28, 2006
in the North Port Sun Herald

State Releases Preliminary Christmas Holiday Fatality Report

TALLAHASSEE -- Thirteen people died during the 72-hour Christmas holiday period, according to a preliminary report by the Florida Highway Patrol.

The report, released on Tuesday, stated 13 deaths occurred in eight separate traffic crashes.

This represents about a 32 percent drop from the 2005 totals.

Last year, FHP reported 40 people were killed in 35 traffic crashes during the same 72-hour Christmas holiday period.

The 72-hour time period started just after midnight on Dec. 23, and ended at midnight on Dec. 25.

According to FHP's 2006 findings:

Ten of the 13 fatalities occurred during the hours of darkness.

All of the fatal traffic crashes are being investigated as to whether any were alcohol related. All are still listed as pending.

Of the 13 fatalities, one was a pedestrian, and two were motorcycles (one motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet).

Sixty percent of the fatalities in six vehicles normally equipped with safety belts were not wearing them.

A county-by-county report:

Jackson County had two fatalities on Dec. 23, a driver and a passenger, and both were wearing seat belts.

Marion County had three fatalities, all on Dec. 23, a driver and two passengers, and none was wearing a seat belt.

Orange County reported one fatality, on Dec. 25. A vehicle hit a pedestrian.

Sarasota County had one fatality on Dec. 23, a passenger who was not wearing a seat belt.

Highlands County had two fatalities on Dec. 23. Both were motorcycles. One was wearing a helmet, the other was not.

Duval County had one fatality on Dec. 24, a passenger who was not wearing a seat belt.

Indian River County had one fatality on Dec. 24, a driver who was wearing a seat belt.

St. Lucie County had two fatalities on Dec. 25. A driver who was not wearing a seat belt, and a passenger who was wearing a seat belt.

Multiple fatality crashes occurred in Jackson, Marion, Highlands, and St. Lucie counties.

FHP reported the above statistical information provided covers only crashes it investigated. Many municipalities and counties have their own traffic homicide investigators, and their counts are not reflected in this report.