Published: June 08, 2009 10:32 pm      

Auto fatality rates up in state ... but not in Pulaski County

Authorities are reporting an increase in the number of traffic fatalities in the state for 2009 as compared to fatal crashed reported during the same time period in 2008 — but statistics at the Pulaski County level are just the opposite.

The preliminary numbers released by Kentucky State Police come after a particularly dangerous week for motorists in Kentucky. According to KSP, nine people died in eight separate crashes on Kentucky roadways from Monday, June 1 through Sunday, June 7 in Boone, Henderson, Letcher, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Shelby, and Spencer counties.

Seven of the crashes involved motor vehicles and it was reported that five of those victims were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accidents. KSP reported that alcohol was considered a factor in four of those accidents.

Single fatality crashes occurred in Boone, Henderson, Letcher, Lincoln, Marshall and Shelby counties.

One double fatality crash occurred in Spencer County last week. One driver was transported to a local hospital and later succumbed to her injuries. The driver of the second vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

One motorcycle fatality occurred in Logan county this past week as well. KSP reported the victim was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Through June 7, KSP preliminary statistics indicate that 325 people lost their lives on Kentucky roadways during 2009 — five of those occurred in Pulaski County, according to information provided by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.

Pulaski County Sheriff Todd Wood said should the trend continue, by July the figures for 2009 should be around half of those reported fatalities in the first seven months of 2008.

“It does look like it is cut in half from what it was this time last year,” Wood said.

10 traffic fatalities were recorded in the county between January and July of 2008.

A total of 850 traffic crashes have occurred so far this year in the county. 123 of those resulted in injuries.

The 325 fatalities that have occurred on Kentucky roads for 2009 is 14 more than what was reported for the same time period in 2008.

Out of the reported 276 motor vehicle fatalities, 153 of those involved victims who were allegedly not wearing seat belts.

16 pedestrians have been killed in crashes so far this year, 28 people have died in motorcycle accidents and five fatalities involved an all-terrain vehicle, or ATV.

A total of 76 fatalities have resulted from crashes involving the suspected use of alcohol, according to KSP.