Austin Daily Herald

Fatal accidents in Mower County were three times higher in 2002 than in 2001, according to a Crash Facts study released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

In 2002, six fatal accidents killed seven people in the county, while in 2001 two were killed in two accidents.

Austin's fatal accident rate remained at zero in 2002. This year in Austin, one fatal accident has occurred.

The number of accidents in the county, however, was slightly lower in 2002. In 2001, 767 accidents were reported while in 2002 732 occurred.

In 2002, 305 people were injured in accidents while in 2001 accidents caused 301 injuries. Property damage was reported after 524 accidents in 2002 and in 554 accidents in 2001.

Statewide, accident fatalities in 2002 were the highest they have been since 1981. There was a 16 percent increase in state traffic deaths, including a rise in alcohol-related fatalities. A total of 89 more traffic fatalities raised the number of traffic deaths to 657 in 2002. In 1981, traffic fatalities numbered 763.