Holiday fallout

Despite efforts to crack down, Pennsylvania state police report there were fatalities out on the roads over the long weekend.

State police are saying that at least 17 people died on highways in Pennsylvania during the Thanksgiving holiday period.

In a statement released today, authorities said 11 of the victims were not wearing seat belts. The total fatalities over the five-day holiday driving period represented a more than fivefold increase from last year, when three deaths were reported on state highways.

Overall this year, state police reported 1,101 crashes. They said alcohol consumption was a factor in six of the crashes that involved one or more fatalities.

The state police statistics exclude crashes that local police handled.