Eight people died in Missouri traffic crashes over the Labor Day weekend, according to information provided by the Missouri Highway Patrol.
There were 20 fatalities over the 2016 holiday weekend.
The counting period for the holiday ran from 6 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Monday.
Labor Day traffic statistics for 2017 show there were 317 crashes, 112 injuries, eight fatalities, 136 DWI arrests and 128 drug arrests.
Boating statistics for this Labor Day counting period include six crashes, three injuries, no fatalities, one drowning, 17 BWI arrests and 35 drug arrests.
Last year, the Highway Patrol investigated 299 traffic crashes, which included 108 injuries and 14 of the 20 fatalities. Troopers made 91 arrests for DWI and 119 drug arrests last year. Troopers also investigated 15 boating crashes involving 10 injuries, arrested 11 people for boating while intoxicated and made 25 drug arrests on the state's rivers and lakes. There was one drowning over last year's Labor Day weekend.
Of the eight traffic crash fatalities troopers investigated this Labor Day weekend, only one occurred in the 13-county area covered by Troop F, headquartered in Jefferson City.
That occurred Friday, when Cheryl J. Ashton, 60, of Owensville, died after the vehicle she was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway and she overcorrected. The vehicle then returned to the roadway, went off the left side of the roadway, and struck a road sign and a bridge railing. The vehicle then became airborne, struck the ground and a tree, and caught fire. Ashton was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash occurred on Missouri Route B north of Missouri Route CC in Gasconade County. Ashton was wearing a seat belt.