NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Preliminary figures from the Tennessee Department of Safety said fewer people were killed on Tennessee roadways over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Initial reports found 13 people died in traffic accidents over the three-day weekend compared to 19 fatalities in 2011.
According to officials, six crashes were single vehicle wrecks, while four of them were multiple car crashes.
Authorities said 10 of the people killed were vehicle occupants and three were motorcyclists.
Five of the 10 vehicle occupants killed were not wearing seatbelts.
"One traffic fatality is one too many," THP Colonel Tracy Trott said. "However, the reduction in traffic-related deaths the last two months is an encouraging sign that our highway safety enforcement, along with our partnerships with local law enforcement agencies and highway safety advocates, is making a difference."
The highest number of traffic fatalities reported over a Memorial Day weekend was in 1973 when 26 people were killed, while the lowest number of deaths was reported in 2002 with five people fatally injured in accidents.
As of May 31, 397 people have been killed on Tennessee roadways.
