COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol says seven people were killed in seven separate accidents on Ohio roadways during the Christmas holiday period, continuing a three-year downward trend.
The reporting period lasted from Dec. 23 through Dec. 26.
Nine people were killed in traffic accidents over the reporting period in 2020 and 12 in 2019.
Three of those killed in fatal crashes this year were not wearing a seatbelt and two of the fatalities were the result of impaired driving, the patrol said.
Troopers removed 162 impaired drivers from Ohio’s roads during the holiday, which is an increase of nearly 12% compared to last year.