The number of deaths on Virginia’s roadways is on the rise this year, after a downward trend in 2010, according to the Virginia State Police.
AAA Mid-Atlantic earlier this month released 2010 statistics showing a 2.9 percent nationwide drop in fatalities from 2009, and a drop in Virginia from 758 fatalities to 740.
This year, the statistics show a different story. State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said as of Dec. 22, 731 people died in traffic crashes statewide, compared to 713 by the same date last year.
“Yes, we’ve seen an increase this year, but we had a record low last year,” Geller said.
Part of the increase, she said may be due to a large number of multiple-fatality wrecks, including multiple double-fatalities in Appomattox County, and a bus crash in Caroline County that killed four people in May.
“We have really seen a number of multiple-fatality crashes occurring,” Geller said, adding “there’s no one common denominator.”
She said factors contributing to the deaths on Virginia’s highways include alcohol use, speed, fatigue and driver distraction. One factor, she said, often can turn a serious crash into a deadly one.
“It compounds if they’re not wearing a seatbelt and they strike a guardrail or embankment and overturn, they end up being thrown from the vehicle,” Geller said.
Recently, Jerrel Good, of South Boston, was killed in a wreck on Virginia 151 in Amherst County when his car was hit head-on by a utility truck on Dec. 15.
Brittnee M. Berg and Jeremy Hollandsworth were killed when their vehicle ran off U.S. 460 in the Spout Spring area of Appomattox County earlier this month. Neither was wearing a seatbelt.
Not included in Geller’s statistics are: James Haythe, who died after he was hit by a vehicle in on 12th Street in Lynchburg last week, and Justin Christopher Love, who died Christmas Day on Virginia 1022 near Virginia 24 when his van ran off the road and hit several trees.
Martha Meade, spokeswoman for AAA, said “While the decline in traffic fatalities is encouraging news, one death is still one too many.
“We will continue to partner with safety organizations and law enforcement to promote safe driving practices and to advocate in the legislature for stronger traffic safety laws until we reach zero fatalities.”
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