COLUMBUS — Over the Independence Day weekend, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported 16 deaths in 15 traffic crashes. No fatalities were reported in Allen County or any of the surrounding counties.
These crashes occurred from July 3 at midnight to July 7 at 11:59 p.m.
Nine of the people who died were not wearing seat belts. During this time, troopers issued almost 3,000 seat belt and child safety seat citations.
The patrol reported 484 incidents in Allen County, along with 46 in Putnam and 522 in Auglaize.
Troopers responded to a total of 648 crashes and made 34,209 traffic contacts. 1,368 citations were issued for distracted driving; 438 arrests were made for impaired driving; and 72 people received charges for drugs.
