Tennessee road, waterway deaths down this Memorial Day
Tennessee roadway and waterway fatalities were down this year amid a rainy Memorial Day weekend.
The National Weather Service reported almost 2 inches of rain in the Nashville area during the holiday weekend. Officials at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency said the weather kept recreational boating traffic lower than usual volumes.
Both the Wildlife Resource Agency and the Tennessee Highway Patrol reported less deaths when compared to 2024.
Despite the reduction, Highway Patrol said they recorded a death every five and a half hours during the holiday period from 6 p.m. May 23 to 6 a.m. May 27.
"While we are encouraged by the reduction in fatalities this Memorial Day weekend, any loss of life on our roads is a tragedy," Colonel Matt Perry, commander of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, said. "Our troopers worked hard to enforce traffic laws and assist motorists, and we are thankful for the public's cooperation. We will continue our efforts to promote safe driving habits and ensure everyone reaches their destination safely."
There were no boating-related deaths on Tennessee's waterways this year, the Wildlife Resource Agency said in a statement. Last year, there was one death.
One person was injured in a tubing incident on Watts Bar Lake southwest of Knoxville during the holiday weekend, the agency said. There were two other accidents that ended in property damage, according to the agency.
Five people were arrested for boating under the influence.
The Memorial Day Weekend marks the beginning of the summer boating season and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predicts millions of people will hit the lakes and rivers throughout the Cumberland River basin. In 2024, there were 14 fatalities at Nashville Disctrict lakes between April and September, the Corps said in a news release. The year before that, there were 17.
This year so far here have been five fatalities, the Wildlife Resource Agency reported.
In the 84-hours designated as the Memorial Day Holiday by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, state troopers reported five crashes resulting in eight deaths. Last year, 14 people were killed in crashes.
Four of the five crashes were single-vehicle wrecks. The fifth involved a greyhound bus and a pickup truck outside of Jackson, killing one bus passenger and one person in the truck and injuring 39, the Highway Patrol said.
Only one fatal wreck involved alcohol.
Much like the boating season, Memorial Day marks the start of road-trip season. AAA, the automotive group that provides members roadside assistance and insurance products, predicted more than 800,000 Tennesseans would travel by car during the holiday period.
Summer also kicks off what AAA calls the 100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers, as students are off school and have more time to be in the car. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows deadly crashes involving teens increase by 30% during the summer.
"During the summer, teen drivers are on the road more often, usually with friends, which increases the risk of distraction and dangerous driving habits,' Rachel Wilson, director of driver education for AAA, said in a statement May 29. 'Many feel invincible behind the wheel, underestimating the dangers of speeding, distractions, and not wearing a seatbelt."
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Less deaths reported on Tennessee roads, waterways during Memorial Day
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