Arizona motor-vehicle crash deaths dropped in 2014

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Department of Transportation reports that deaths of Arizona residents in motor-vehicle crashes dropped by nearly 9 percent in 2014.

The department collected data on law enforcement reports to find that 774 people died in motor-vehicle accidents last year compared to 849 deaths in 2013.

Despite the drop in fatalities, the department found crashes increased by more than 2 percent to a total of nearly 110,000 accidents across the state in 2014.

Other findings in the report included a downward trend in alcohol-related motor-vehicle fatalities and alcohol-related crashes.

Transportation department Director John Halikowski says drivers need to continue focusing on buckling their seatbelts, obeying speed limits and never driving while impaired.

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