SPECIAL TO THE ADVOCATE

Montgomery – During the Thanksgiving holiday travel period from 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, through midnight Sunday, Nov. 27, Alabama State Troopers investigated five fatal crashes resulting in six traffic deaths.

These six fatalities occurred in Mobile, Russell, Etowah, Washington and Madison counties. Five of the six individuals killed were not wearing seat belts. Based on preliminary investigations, troopers say alcohol was a factor in three of the six fatalities.

According to officials with the Alabama Department of Public Safety, troopers did not investigate any traffic deaths Sunday, the day most holiday travelers headed home, despite inclement weather and hazardous road conditions.

During this same holiday travel period in 2010, troopers investigated seven of the state’s 12 traffic deaths.