Traffic fatalities continue to decline in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The number of traffic fatalities on Oklahoma roads and highways this year continues to drop, and September was no exception.<br/><br/>The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 53 people died

Wednesday, October 12th 2005, 5:50 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The number of traffic fatalities on Oklahoma roads and highways this year continues to drop, and September was no exception.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 53 people died on state roads last month, compared to 71 during the same month last year.

Nine of last month's fatalities were motorcyclists, one was on an all-terrain vehicle and six were pedestrians. The remaining 37 died in vehicle crashes.

Three of the victims were age 16 or younger.

The gender breakdown includes 36 male and 17 female victims.

According to OHP statistics, 61 percent of the fatalities involved people who weren't wearing a seat belt.