Four people died in traffic crashes, no one died in boating crashes, and no one drowned during the 2016 July Fourth holiday counting period. The counting period began at 6 p.m., Friday, July 1, 2016, and ended at 11:59 p.m., Monday, July 4, 2016. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the following:

2016 July Fourth Holiday Traffic Statistics

Crashes ─ 397
Injuries ─ 149
Fatalities ─ 4
DWI ─ 121
Drug Arrests ─ 107

2016 July Fourth Holiday Boating Statistics

Crashes ─ 11
Injuries ─ 6
Fatals ─ 0
Drownings ─ 0
BWI ─ 11
Drug Arrests ─ 15

In 2015, 14 people were killed and 427 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 953 traffic crashes. [The Missouri State Highway Patrol worked 305 traffic crashes that year.] Over the 2015 July Fourth holiday, troopers arrested 127 people for driving while intoxicated. Troopers investigated six boating crashes including four injuries and zero fatalities during the 2015 July Fourth holiday weekend. No one drowned during last year's holiday. Troopers arrested 17 people for boating while intoxicated over the 2015 July Fourth holiday.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated all four of the fatal traffic crashes occurring within the 2016 July Fourth counting period. One traffic fatality occurred in each of the following areas: Troop A, Lee's Summit, MO, area, Troop C, Weldon Spring, MO, area, Troop D, Springfield, MO, area, and Troop H, St. Joseph, MO, area.

There were no traffic fatalities during the counting period on Friday, July 1, 2016.

Two people died in traffic crashes on Saturday, July 2, 2016. Brett L. Lewis, 42, of Springfield, MO, died when the motorcycle he was operating traveled off the roadway at a high rate of speed and struck a utility pole. Lewis was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Greene County on U.S. Highway 160 at Farm Road 142 just outside the Springfield city limit. Dr. Olivi pronounced Lewis dead at Mercy Hospital.

Bret R. Devling, 34, of Elwood, KS, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the west side of the roadway, crossed the median entering the southbound lane of traffic, and struck a commercial vehicle head on. Devlin's vehicle came to rest under the commercial vehicle off the west side of the roadway. It is unknown whether or not Devling was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Andrew County on Interstate 229 northbound at the 11.6-mile marker. Andrew County Coroner Doug Johnson pronounced Devling dead at the scene.

One fatality occurred on Sunday, July 3, 2016. Elva E. Holden, 89, of Amsterdam, MO, died when a vehicle struck her. Holden was a pedestrian walking in the eastbound lane of Missouri Route J. Bates County Coroner Gary Schowengerdt pronounced Holden dead at the scene. The crash occurred in Bates County on Missouri Route J east of Missouri Route Y. The driver of the vehicle that struck Holden was not injured in the crash; he was wearing a seat belt. The Bates County Sheriff's Department, Adrian Police Department, Bates County Emergency Medical Services, and Amsterdam [MO] Fire Department also responded to the scene.

One fatality occurred on Monday, July 4, 2016. Floyd C. Sparks, 83, of Park Hills, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving failed to yield to oncoming traffic. A second vehicle struck Sparks' vehicle then traveled off the left side of the roadway into the southbound lanes. Sparks was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in St. Francois County on U.S. Highway 67 at Missouri Highway Y. St. Francois County Coroner James Coplin pronounced Sparks dead at the scene. The driver of the second vehicle sustained moderate injuries in the crash; she was not wearing a seat belt.

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NOTE: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, if other departments report fatal traffic crashes after this news release was sent out, or if a fatality is determined to be caused by a medical condition rather than a traffic incident.

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