State Hits 200 Road Fatalities, DWI Crackdown Continues

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – Minnesota has hit 200 road fatalities for the year as a crackdown on drinking and driving continues through the Labor Day weekend, according to officials with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

DPS officials said 205 people have been killed in traffic crashes this year, which is on pace with the 204 that were recorded at this time last year. A total of 368 people died on Minnesota roads last year, which was the lowest in one year since 1944.

This year's mark of 205 includes four bicyclists, 29 motorcyclists and 18 pedestrians.

The DPS is also continuing its "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign through the Labor Day weekend in an effort to prevent drunk driving. Officials said one-third of last year's fatal crashes involved a drunk driver, and there have been 651 drunk driving-related deaths over the last five years. A majority of those involved a driver who had a blood alcohol concentration of at least .16, which is twice the legal limit for driving in Minnesota.