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Ohio State Highway Patrol: 7 people killed in traffic incidents during New Year's holiday weekend

This year's number was down from the 13 traffic deaths reported in 2022-23. Lorain County had the most traffic incidents in the state during the four-day period.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State Highway Patrol has released its report on traffic activity that took place during the New Year's holiday weekend. 

According to the OSHP, a total of seven people were killed in six fatal crashes in the four-day period between midnight on Dec. 29 through 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 1. Of the seven people who were killed, five were not wearing an available safety belt. 

At least one of the fatal incidents occurred in Cuyahoga County.

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The seven fatalities on Ohio's roadways were significantly lower than the numbers reported for New Year's in each of the last three years. During the New Year's holiday in 2022-23, a total of 13 people were killed in Ohio traffic incidents. The last time there were less than double digit fatalities was in 2019-20, when only four people were killed on Ohio roads during New Year's weekend.

Overall, the OSHP says troopers made 3,259 traffic enforcement contacts in the four-day period. That number included 272 OVI arrests, 106 distracted driving and 409 safety belt citations. Lorain County led the state with the most traffic incidents by county with 398, far outpacing Clermont County (328). Portage County was third in the state with 296 traffic incidents, followed by Cuyahoga County with 292. 

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