Fatalities near 2016 number

In the latest weekly report from the highway patrol, a total of 145 fatalities have taken place in 2017 on Montana roads. The number in 2016 was 152.

25 of the fatalities have taken place in District 3 (Butte) which includes Whitehall and Cardwell. In District 3, there has been 11 fatalities on the interstate, nine on primary roads, one on a rural road, three on secondary roads and one on an urban road.

In the report, alcohol was suspected as a contributing factor in 32.41 of the 145 fatalities in Montana. Speed was suspected in 37.24 percent, and drugs were suspected in 24.83 percent of the fatalities.

Seat belts not being used were reported in 44.14 percent of the fatalities to date in 2017.

65 percent of the fatal accidents took place during the daylight hours, and 23 percent of the accidents had an out of state vehicle involved.

18.62 percent of accidents took place in “other than dry road” conditions. The number of fatalities was 162 in 2015.