Published on Tuesday, July 10, 2007
in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

FHP: 31 killed statewide in Fourth of July holiday crashes

More than 30 people died on the state's highways over the long Fourth of July weekend, with one fatality reported in Palm Beach County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The patrol investigated no fatalities in Broward County over the six-day period that began July 3 and ended Sunday.

Two deaths were reported in Miami-Dade County and one in Monroe County. FHP says 31 people were killed statewide in crashes it investigated.

Troopers charged 167 people with driving under the influence, issued 7,589 speeding citations and 1,426 seatbelt and child restraint citations.

FHP said that 67 percent of those killed in crashes were not wearing seatbelts.

The patrol is still investigating Sunday morning's fatal crash of an 18-year-old man from west of West Palm Beach. He drove his car into a metal light pole off the ramp to Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard from southbound I-95.