Troopers are planning extra patrols along West Virginia highways for Memorial Day weekend. Historically, there have been more than 400 traffic deaths across the nation on Memorial Day weekends and a new study shows West Virginia has the highest traffic-related death toll per capita of any U.S. state. Since 2012, West Virginia has averaged nearly three road deaths per 100,000 people over the long holiday weekend trailed by South Dakota, North Dakota, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Some of those numbers are skewed by the large number of people traveling through the state for the holiday, according to West Virginia Deputy Secretary of Transportation Scott Eplin.West Virginia interstates can be steeper have more curves than some drivers expect too. Eyewitness News said youth, speeding and alcohol are the main contributors to fatal crashes during Memorial Day weekend travel.