Holiday traffic deaths reach double-digits this year

By Associated Press Published: May 28, 2007 at 5:17 PM PST
Holiday traffic deaths reach double-digits this year »Play Video
Four people died this weekend in a head-on collision just north of the state line in southeast Oregon.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Extra police patrols could not stop this Memorial Day weekend from being the deadliest on Oregon roads in more than 20 years.

Ten people had been killed in Oregon crashes between Friday and Monday, eclipsing the eight who died last year, police said. Half the deaths this year involved people on motorcycles and another occurred when a man walked out onto Highway 101 near Bandon. The other four deaths happened Friday, when a car carrying an Idaho family crashed head-on into a truck and burst into flames. That accident happened near the Nevada state line.

An Oregon Department of Transportation study found that Memorial Day has a higher percentage of alcohol-involved traffic deaths than any other holiday weekend.

Local and state police had extra patrols beginning Friday, targeting speeders, people not wearing seat belts and those driving under the influence.

Police have to yet to say how many of this year's fatal crashes could be attributed to alcohol or excessive speed.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)