8 Killed In Tennessee Memorial Day Crashes

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Preliminary reports released Wednesday by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security indicated that eight people were killed in traffic crashes during the 96-hour Memorial Day holiday period this year. That is one less than the nine vehicular fatalities recorded during the 2014 Memorial Day period. The preliminary Memorial Day holiday traffic fatality numbers include vehicular deaths reported by all Tennessee law enforcement agencies.

Five of the people killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts, while two of the traffic deaths were motorcycle riders.

There were zero alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol’s “No Refusal” enforcement resulted in 31 DUI arrests and 316 seat belt citations in the nine participating counties during the holiday period. The “No Refusal” counties included, Anderson (Knoxville District), Grundy (Chattanooga District), Rutherford and Wilson (Nashville District), Shelby (Memphis District), Washington (Fall Branch District), Putnam (Cookeville District), Bedford (Lawrenceburg District), and Henry (Jackson District).

Of the eight traffic fatalities statewide, one death occurred in a “No Refusal” county (Shelby County).

The results for the nine-county “No Refusal” enforcement effort are listed below:

Anderson County

DUI arrests: 3

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples: 0

Grundy County

DUI arrests: 3

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples: 0

Rutherford County

DUI Arrests: 8