Eight Traffic Fatalities Reported Over Memorial Day Holiday

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said eight people were killed and 99 were injured in 234 traffic crashes during the 2026 Memorial Day holiday counting period, which began at 6 p.m. Friday, May 22, and ended at 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 25. Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the patrol, released the preliminary figures Tuesday as Missourians returned from one of the state’s busiest travel weekends.

According to the patrol, troopers recorded 107 driving-while-intoxicated arrests over the holiday period. On Missouri waterways, officers investigated four boating crashes that resulted in six injuries, but reported no boating fatalities and no drownings. The patrol also made seven boating-while-intoxicated arrests.

The 2026 holiday numbers were higher than the patrol’s 2025 Memorial Day counting period, when troopers investigated 203 traffic crashes involving three fatalities and 92 injuries.

In a broader statewide comparison for 2025, four people were killed and 356 were injured in 868 vehicle crashes, while three boating crashes were investigated across Missouri. The patrol emphasized that the 2026 statistics remain preliminary and could change as additional reports are received.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Missouri Highway Patrol Urges Safety this Memorial Day Weekend

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, the Missouri State Highway Patrol is encouraging residents and visitors to plan ahead and stay safe while enjoying travel and outdoor activities across the state.

With pleasant weather expected to draw more people onto Missouri’s roads and waterways, officials say preparation can help make holiday weekend plans more successful. Because of ongoing road construction statewide, the Patrol recommends travelers use the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Traveler Information Map before leaving home. The map offers up-to-date details on road closures, traffic delays, construction zones, and alternate routes, and is available both online and as a free mobile app.

The 2026 Memorial Day holiday counting period begins at 6 p.m. Friday, May 22, and continues through 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 25. During that time, every available trooper will be assigned to patrol Missouri’s highways and waterways, enforcing state laws and assisting motorists and boaters in need.

Troopers patrolling Missouri roadways will focus on hazardous moving violations, speeding, and impaired driving. The Patrol will also take part in Operation C.A.R.E., or Crash Awareness Reduction Effort, during the holiday weekend.

Last year’s Memorial Day weekend saw 868 vehicle crashes across Missouri, leaving 356 people injured and four dead. On the water, there were three boating crashes reported statewide, though none resulted in injuries or fatalities. Troopers also made 81 driving while intoxicated arrests and no boating while intoxicated arrests during the 2025 holiday period.

Memorial Day weekend is widely considered the unofficial start of boating season, and officials are reminding the public to wear seat belts in vehicles and life jackets near, on, or in the water. The Patrol also urges anyone planning to consume intoxicating substances to designate a sober driver, whether traveling by car or boat.

Anyone who witnesses criminal activity or experiences an emergency is encouraged to call the Patrol’s Emergency Report Line at (800) 525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. Those emergency numbers are available for both highway and water emergencies.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Five Fatalities Reported During 2026 New Year Holiday

Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, released preliminary statistics for the 2026 New Year’s holiday traffic period, revealing a sobering start to the year on Missouri roads. Between 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 4, 2026, law enforcement responded to 187 traffic crashes statewide. These incidents resulted in 87 injuries and claimed five lives.

Highway Patrol troopers arrested 112 individuals for driving while intoxicated (DWI) during the same period. Notably, there were no boating crashes or drownings reported over the holiday, marking a safer outcome for Missouri’s waterways.

Comparing these figures to the previous New Year’s holiday period in 2024-2025, there was one fatality and 118 injuries in 264 reported traffic crashes. The reduction in total crashes and injuries this year comes with a concerning increase in fatalities.

The statistics provided are preliminary and may change if additional fatalities are reported or if other law enforcement agencies submit late information. Further details regarding specific crashes and arrests can be found on the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s official website.

It is important to note that the New Year’s holiday counting period varies each year, lasting between 1.25 and 4.25 days depending on which day of the week the holiday falls.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Drive Safe this Christmas

The Missouri State Highway Patrol wishes everyone a merry and safe Christmas and holiday. When traveling during the holidays, remember to wear your seat belt and obey traffic laws.

Over the 2024 Christmas holiday, there were 295 traffic crashes statewide during the 30-hour counting period. In those crashes, five people were killed and another 133 were injured. The 2025 Christmas Day holiday period runs from 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 24, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 28.

If you plan to travel during the holiday, be aware of work zones, obey all traffic laws, adjust driving speeds to the weather, and make sure everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt or secured in the appropriate child safety seat for their size and age. Remember: Missouri is a hands-free state, so put the phone down and buckle up. There is never a reason to speed, drive aggressively, or drive impaired.

Due to ongoing road construction throughout the state, the Patrol suggests that travelers use the MoDOT Traveler Information Map to plan their travel days. The map provides up-to-date information such as road closures, delays, construction zones, and alternative routes. You can download the app for free to your smart device or access it here.

The public is encouraged to call the Patrol's Emergency Report Line 800-525-5555 or *55 on your cellular phone if they witness criminal activity, observe driving behavior that could cause a crash, or experience an emergency. If your holiday festivities include intoxicants, designate someone else to drive. Don't become a statistic.

KPGZ News - Missouri State Highway Patrol

Three Fatalities Reported on Missouri Roads During Thanksgiving Holiday

The Missouri State Highway Patrol announced that three people lost their lives in traffic crashes during the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday counting period, which spanned from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 26, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 30. Officials reported no boating crashes or drownings occurred over the holiday.

According to preliminary data released by the Patrol, troopers responded to a total of 304 crashes, resulting in 82 injuries and 3 fatalities. There were also 87 arrests for driving while intoxicated made during the holiday period.

In comparison, during the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday counting period, troopers investigated 462 traffic crashes, with six fatalities and 158 injuries. Statewide last year, 11 people died and 571 were injured in 1,664 reported traffic crashes. Troopers made 106 arrests for driving while intoxicated in 2024.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.