Highway deaths decrease slightly in 2009

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Jan 4, 2010 at 10:33 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jan 4, 2010 at 10:33 PM MDT

MISSOULA - The Montana Highway Patrol says it recorded 221 highway fatalities in 2009, a slight decrease from the year before.

Dawn Zimmerman with the Highway Patrol's records management department says there were 229 deaths in 2008 and 267 in 2007. The district with the most highway fatalities in 2009 was in the Butte area, with 49 deaths in Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Granite, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Madison, Powell and Silver Bow counties. The Billings area recorded the second most with 42 crash-related deaths.

Authorities say alcohol and speed each factored into 89 of the total number of statewide fatalities. Victims were not wearing seat belts in 170 fatal crashes.

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