Tennessee Sees Decline in July 4 Fatalities

July 13, 2011

Safety officials say the number of fatalities in Tennessee during the Fourth of July holiday continues to decline.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced Monday that early estimates indicate seven people were killed in traffic crashes during the 78-hour holiday weekend, which ran from 6 p.m., Friday, July 1, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, July 4.

The seven fatalities is a drop from the 15 deaths that occurred during last year’s Fourth of July period.

Overall, year-to-date preliminary data indicate 458 people have died on Tennessee roadways, compared to 541 fatalities during the same period in 2010.