7 of 8 deaths were due to victims not wearing seatbelts

Seven of the eight traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July holiday travel period were as a result of wearing no seatbelts, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

State troopers are investigating the traffic crashes from the holiday period, which began on 6 p.m. Fri., June 30, and ran through midnight on Tues., July 4.

The eight fatal crashes consisted of a pedestrian killed in Madison County, a 12-year-old passenger killed in St. Clair County and six drivers killed in Baldwin, Cherokee, Escambia, Marshall, St. Clair and Talladega counties, according to a press release from ALEA.
The deaths bring this year’s trooper-investigated traffic crash total to 328 as of July 4, eight more than the same period last year.

This year, vehicles were equipped with seat belts for 272 of the individuals killed, but only 95 were using seat belts at the time of the crashes. In fact, more than two-thirds of those killed so far in 2017 were not using seat belts, the press release said.

Among the 328 fatalities were seven children ages 5 and younger, and at least two of the children were not restrained.

Troopers assigned to the Marine Patrol Division also are investigating one drowning on Lewis Smith Lake in Winston County.

Nothing further is available as Troopers continue the investigations. Statewide totals will be available later, as local law enforcement agencies submit their traffic crash statistics.