Missouri Police Recall Last Year’s Tragedies in Labor Day Warning

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. That's why it's important to pay attention to what Missouri police are saying about last year's Labor Day Weekend tragedies as travelers prepare for this year's holiday.

Labor Day holiday is one of the most dangerous travel weekends of the year in Missouri

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Department of Public Safety issued a warning ahead of this year's Labor Day Weekend by sharing the tragic numbers that occurred last year during this holiday weekend. Here are the harrowing statistics shared by police from Labor Day last year:

• 17 people died
• 498 were injured
• 1,047 traffic crashes

The math behind those statistics are frightening. That means that someone died in Missouri last Labor Day Weekend every 9.1 minutes. State police arrested 110 people for driving while intoxicated. The danger isn't just on roadways as Missouri also had a tragic Labor Day weekend last year on the water. Here are the water-related accidents in Missouri during last year's Labor Day:

• 2 people killed in boating/swimming accidents
• 8 people injured
• 6 arrested for boating while intoxicated

Read More: Could Busch Stadium Survive a Major Quake?

The Missouri State Highway Patrol will be participating in what they call Operation CARE (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) which means you can expect an elevated presence on highways and also waterways. They also remind drivers to make sure their vehicles are in good working condition prior to holiday weekend road trips.

You can follow the Missouri Highway Patrol on X for updates about Labor Day Weekend safety.