Alabama state troopers report six fatalities in wrecks over long Labor Day weekend
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says six people died in wrecks over the four-day Labor Day holiday weekend in addition to the child who was injured in the jet ski crash at Lake Martin.
Between 12:01AM Friday, August 29, and midnight Monday, September 1, state troopers say six people died in wrecks in Choctaw, Colbert, Lauderdale, Talladega and Tuscaloosa counties.
They say the wrecks involved a motorcycle, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and an electric bicycle. None of the three riders were wearing helmets, and among the three other vehicle fatalities, only one was using a seat belt.
State troopers investigated 371 crashes, which resulted in 147 injuries, including the six fatalities. They also made 33 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) and issued:
• 473 citations for seat belt violations
• 2,324 citations for speeding
• 4,696 total citations for various traffic violations
• 1,638 total warnings for various traffic violations
Marine Patrol Enforcement:
During the same period, ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division investigated three boating incidents, which resulted in four injuries. These incidents occurred on Lake Martin, Neely Henry Lake and in Orange Beach on the Intracoastal Waterway.
While there were no boating fatalities or drownings, ALEA Troopers remained active in enforcement efforts, which included:
• 538 Marine Safety Warnings issued
• 67 Marine Safety Citations issued
• 310 vessel inspections conducted
• 1 Boating Under the Influence (BUI) arrest
As Action 8 News has reported, the jet ski crash which happened Sunday, August 31, on Lake Martin left a 12-year-old juvenile injured. Following an investigation, state troopers say they determined the operator did not possess the required boating license. As a result, the registered owner of the jet ski was issued an Alabama Uniform Boating Traffic Citation for Giving Permission to Operate a Vessel Without a License.
This incident serves as a critical reminder of Alabama’s boating education and operator certification requirements:
• No one under the age of 12 may operate any motorized vessel, including personal watercrafts (PWCs) such as a Sea-Doo and WaveRunner, on Alabama waterways.
• Individuals must be at least 12 years old to be eligible for a vessel operator’s license but cannot operate a vessel alone until age 14.
• Operators ages 12 or 13, after obtaining a license, may operate only if a licensed adult (21 or older) is onboard and in position to take immediate control.
• Operators age 14 and older, with a valid license, may legally operate unsupervised. • The operator’s license must be in possession while operating the vessel.
Aviation Unit and Coastal Safety:
Additionally, as in previous summer holidays, ALEA’s Aviation Unit partnered with the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores for the Rescue Swimmer Detail along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Over the weekend, the detail conducted nine helicopter patrol flights and responded to three calls for swimmers in distress.
