(Photo By Flickr User Jinx McCombs)

Illinois saw accident deaths plummet over Labor Day weekend this year.

Illinois Labor Day crash deaths down 78 percent from last year

Five people died in crashes in 2017, down from 19 in 2016. Overall fatalities dropped from 23 to five. Illinois State Police issued 6,127 citations and 3,979 warnings over the weekend. Nearly half of the citations were for speeding. The state police handled 196 crashes over the Labor Day weekend.

ISP Director Leo Schmitz. says,

“This was one of the safest Labor Day travel weekends we’ve experienced in Illinois in the last six years. “Five fatalities is still five too many. There were people who had their life torn apart because they lost a loved one due to a fatal traffic crash. The ISP will continue working to reduce fatalities to zero and to keep our citizens safe on Illinois roadways.”

Locally, two men died in rural Tazewell County over Labor Day weekend in a crash on Townline Road, near Mackinaw.

In Peoria County, sheriff’s police issued 121 citations. Six people were arrested for driving with a revoked or suspended license, and one person was arrested for driving under the influence.