The Michigan State Police (MSP) confirmed today that preliminary reports indicate nine people lost their lives in seven separate traffic crashes during the 2007 Memorial Day holiday weekend.  In comparison, 18 people died in traffic crashes during the 2006 Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Of the nine victims, three were known to have been restrained by safety belts, and alcohol was a known factor in three of the seven fatal crashes.

"These numbers are preliminary and only reflect those fatalities reported to the MSP as of noon today," stated Capt. Robert R. Powers, Jr., Commander of the MSP Traffic Safety Division.  "These reductions in fatalities reflect the coordinated effort between law enforcement agencies throughout the state and the continued high percentage of safety belt usage by Michigan's motorists."       

The 2007 Memorial Day holiday weekend ran from 6 p.m. on Friday, May 25, through midnight on Monday, May 28, 2007.