Highway patrol: No fatal accident during New Year's holiday

JACKSON, Miss (AP) - The Mississippi Highway Patrol says the new year started with no fatal accidents over the New Year's holiday.

The New Year's enforcement period began Thursday and ended Friday at midnight.

Capt. Johnny Poulos said in a news release state troopers investigated 79 traffic accidents on state and federal highways and interstates, which resulted in 19 injuries.

Poulos says troopers issued 3,035 citations during the holiday period and made 84 DUI arrests made.

During the Christmas holiday period, Poulos says five people, including two pedestrians, died in four collisions on state highways and interstates over the Christmas weekend. Three other people died in crashes in D'Iberville and Saucier.

Poulos said rain and thunderstorms may have led to more accidents during the Christmas period which ended at midnight Dec. 27.