COLUMBUS – The number of traffic fatalities on Ohio roadways over the Memorial Day holiday weekend was the highest in three years, according to provisional statistics released Tuesday by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The patrol reported 22 crashes resulted in 23 deaths during the four-day reporting period from May 26 through May 29, a 22% increase over last year. Six of the fatalities occurred in central Ohio, including four in Franklin County, the most of any county in the state.
This was the highest number of Memorial Day weekend fatalities since 2020, when 20 individuals were killed.
State troopers made 19,980 traffic enforcement contacts, including 399 impaired driving arrests, 233 drug arrests and 2,797 safety belt citations, patrol officials said.
In addition, the patrol made 10,463 non-enforcement contacts including 2,107 motorist assists.