HIGHWAY FATALITIES

Minnesota State Highway Patrol Sergeant Curt Mowers said the year has just begun and already at least five people have died on state roadways. Mowers said last year's highway fatalities indicate what may become a tragic and sobering trend. Mowers said at least 503 people died in highway crashes in 2007. That total seems to indicate a reverse of the downward trend over the last five years. 657 people died in crashes in 2002, less than 500 in 2006. Mowers said traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for Minnesotans aged 4-34 and the vast majority of traffic deaths are predictable and preventable. This year so far, at least 5 people have died in Minnesota highway traffic crashes.