Patrol reports 8 fatalities over holiday weekend

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol released a preliminary report on Monday, giving a tally of highway and waterway injuries and fatalities from the Fourth of July weekend.

Overall, the patrol reported eight fatalities on Missouri's highways, zero boating fatalities and no drownings during the holiday counting period, which started Thursday, July 3 and lasted through Sunday, July 6.

MSHP reported 246 crashes on the state's roads, including 115 that involved injuries. Troopers also cited 114 individuals for driving while intoxicated.

The Missouri Water Patrol worked nine boat crashes, four of which involved injuries. Officers also cited 13 individuals for boating while intoxicated.

The worst fatality involved two deaths and occurred in Putnam County. A driver and passenger perished when their vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a tree, and began to burn. They were pronounced dead at the scene by the Putnam County Coroner.

In northwest Missouri, a 71-year-old woman died when she walked into the path of an eastbound vehicle. The incident occurred on U.S. Highway 136, just west of Interstate 365. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene by Harrison County's coroner.

No traffic fatalities were reported on Sunday.