19 Die in Traffic Accidents over the Thanksgiving Holiday

The 102-hour Thanksgiving holiday travel period ended at midnight with 19 traffic fatalities reported across the state. The Georgia State Patrol investigated 11 of the 19 fatal crashes that occurred between 6 p.m. Wednesday and midnight.

The 19 traffic fatalities is one more than in 2011.

State troopers investigated a total of 622 traffic crashes during the period that resulted in 263 injuries. Of the 11 traffic deaths investigated by troopers, alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor in 4 of the crashes, and 7 of the victims were not using seat belts. There was one fatal pedestrian collision investigated by troopers.

Almost all of the fatal crashes involved either speed, alcohol or the victim failing to use a seat belt.

Local law enforcement agencies investigated eight of the fatal crashes, including a single-vehicle accident in Forsyth County on Thanksgiving day and a three-vehicle accident in Norcross on Sunday morning.