(St. Paul, MN) – Over three hundred people have died on Minnesota roads this year, according to preliminary figures from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

DPS says 301 people have died on Minnesota roads since Jan 1, 2019, down from 313 at this time last year.  The state reported 300 deaths by Oct 22 in 2018.

Of the 301 fatalities, 43 were motorcyclists, 34 were pedestrians, and eight were bicyclists.

August has been the deadliest month of the year so far, with 48 fatalities in 38 crashes.  At least two multi-fatality crashes occurred in southern Minnesota in August.  A wrong-way, early-morning crash on I-90 killed six people on Aug 2.  Days later, two people were killed near Sleepy Eye in a crash on Highway 14.

Alcohol, distraction, and speed continue to play a role in fatal crashes, according to DPS.  Preliminary numbers show that 29% of fatalities on Minnesota roads were related to unbelted motorists, while 20% could be attributed to speed.  There were 26 distracted driving-related deaths, and 79 deaths in which alcohol was a factor.

Law enforcement statewide will participate in an extra DWI enforcement campaign starting Nov 27.

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