Missouri Patrol Says Accidents, Drownings Increased

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says more people have drowned already in the state this year than in all of 2014.

The patrol also said in a statement Monday that there have been more traffic fatalities this year. Preliminary statistics show Missouri has had 437 traffic fatalities so far in 2015, compared to 412 fatalities during the same period in 2014.

The patrol says 30 people have drowned in Missouri this year, which is 1 more than drowned in Missouri in all of 2014.

The patrol is urging people to take safety precautions, like wearing seatbelts and life jackets. The patrol says most of the people killed in traffic accidents this year weren't wearing seatbelts.