Flathead third in fatal wrecks

Flathead County had the third highest number of fatal crashes in Montana in 2012, according to the Montana Highway Patrol’s annual report.

Yellowstone County posted the most fatal crashes for the year at 18, and Gallatin County came in second with 12. Flathead had 11 fatal crashes, down two from the previous year, but up from nine in 2010.

For the entire state there were 192 fatal crashes resulting in 205 fatalities. While fatalities were down by nearly 2 percent, the number of injuries were up by 11 percent.

According to the MHP report, one fatality occurred every 43 hours, and one injury every 73 minutes in 2012. A total of 20,295 crashes were reported for the year.

The report looks at when most fatal and nonfatal crashes occurred based on crash statistics. For fatal crashes, most occurred between 2 and 3 a.m. on Saturday and in June. More nonfatal crashes occurred between 5 and 6 p.m. on Thursday and in December.

The top two contributing factors for fatal crashes were drivers under the influence of alcohol and drivers under the influence of drugs. Alcohol was involved in 26 percent of fatal crashes, drugs in 11 percent and both were present in 12 percent.

The top four contributing factors for all crashes were inattentive drivers, driving too fast for conditions, failing to yield to right of way, and driving in an erratic, reckless or negligent manner.

The total number of motorcycle crashes for the year was 449 with 28 fatal crashes and 30 fatalities. Alcohol was a factor in eight of the fatal crashes, and both alcohol and drugs were a factor in one crash. In half the fatal motorcycle crashes neither alcohol or drugs were present.