Three deaths reported on roads, water as Labor Day weekend continues
Euphenie Andre
EDITOR’S NOTE: The date of the holiday weekend’s start has been corrected.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is urging drivers and boaters to make safe choices this Labor Day weekend after several serious crashes have already been reported.
Since the official counting period began on Friday, troopers reported three people have died in traffic and boating accidents, including a 17-year-old.
Over the last few days alone, troopers have responded to 32 traffic crashes, including two that were deadly. Ten others were left with serious injuries. Those crashes bring Troop F’s total to five fatal wrecks in August, and 28 so far in 2025.
While troopers reported no major boating accidents as of Sunday afternoon, just last weekend there were three crashes on Missouri waters. One was fatal, and another left a person seriously hurt. That marked Troop F’s third boating death in August, and its eighth this year.
Residents enjoying the holiday say safety is on their minds.
“We don’t drink alcohol when we’re out camping,” said Columbia resident Christina Zubillaga. “We make sure we’re not in the water after dark if there are no lights, and my mom always says to stay off the roads after the bars close.”
Veteran boater Randy Bowden said he’s noticed more boats on Missouri waters this summer, though in his opinion, it’s never as busy as the Lake of the Ozarks. Bowden, who has been sailing in Missouri for 30 years, says his approach to safety comes down to two simple rules: he drives sober and always wears a life jacket.
MSHP notes that boaters should avoid overloading their boat with too many passengers and pay close attention to the boats around them. Sergeant Kyle Green reminds drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, and never operate a vehicle or boat while impaired.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 17 people were killed and 498 others were injured in 1,047 traffic crashes over the 2024 Labor Day weekend. That means someone was killed or injured every 9.1 minutes.
Troopers also made 110 arrests for driving while intoxicated.
On Missouri waterways, there were four boating crashes, which led to two deaths and eight injuries. One person drowned, and troopers arrested six people for boating while intoxicated.