Department of Safety
Dave Mitchell, Commissioner
Preliminary Memorial Day Holiday Report
2007 Memorial Day Holiday
6 p.m., Friday, May 25 - 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 28
(78-Hour Holiday Period)
Fatal crashes: 10
4 crashes were single vehicle crashes; 6 were multiple vehicle crashes.
Fatalities: 11
- Two of the fatalities (18%) were in Alcohol Related Crashes. Six of the people killed were vehicle occupants.
- Two of the 6 (33%) were not wearing safety restraints.
- One of the 7 (14%) were ejected from the vehicle.
- No child passengers requiring child restraint devices were killed.
- Three Motorcyclists were killed. 1 was wearing a helmet, 1 was not wearing a helmet, and 1 helmet unknown.
- One ATV driver (no helmet) was killed.
- One pedestrian was killed.
| DAY | TIME | COUNTY | HIGHWAY | NUMBER KILLED | ALCOHOL RELATED | |
| 1. | Saturday | 1:00 PM | Carter | SR-91 | 1 | No |
| 2. | Saturday | 5:00 Am | Hamilton | Hixson Pike | 1 | No |
| 3. | Saturday | 9:26 PM | Hardeman | SR-18 | 1 | Yes |
| 4. | Saturday | 4:20 PM | Haywood | SR-222 | 1 | No |
| 5. | Saturday | 7:22 PM | Henderson | I-40 | 1 | No |
| 6. | Saturday | 11:45 PM | Henry | ST. Rt. 79 | 2 | No |
| 7. | Saturday | 1:58 PM | Washington | SR-91 | 1 | No |
| 8. | Sunday | 3:05 PM | Campbell | St. Rt. 297 | 1 | No |
| 9. | Monday | 6:19 AM | Hamilton | Hixson Pike | 1 | Yes |
| 10. | Monday | 7:10 PM | Montgomery | St. Rt. 223 | 1 | No |
HIGHEST DEATHS
In 1973, 26 people were killed in traffic crashes in Tennessee during a 78-hour Memorial Day holiday period, yielding a fatality rate of one death per 3.0 hours.
LOWEST DEATHS
In 2002, five people were killed in traffic crashes in Tennessee during a 78-hour Memorial Day holiday period, yielding a fatality rate of one death per 15.0 hours and 36 minutes.
The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tennessee.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.
