One Mahoning Valley man was killed in a holiday weekend crash, and holiday traffic crashes remain a reality across the country. However, research shows Ohio is still one of the safest states for driving during the Labor Day weekend.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety has not yet released data for this year’s holiday, but a 10-year nationwide study of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data by the Auto Accident Group, a private firm that compiles crash data for use by law firms and those involved in auto accidents, shows the rate of crashes over Labor Day weekend in Ohio is 16% below the national average, tied with Hawaii. The national average is a 6% increase.

The study also shows the rate of drunken driving-related fatal crashes to all fatal crashes in Ohio is 11%, sixth best nationwide. The national average for that statistic is a 16% increase.

“We wanted to look at which states are the most dangerous to drive in and which time is the most dangerous to drive at on Labor Day weekend. We found Vermont had the largest increase in the rate of fatal crashes over the weekend, while Hawaii had the lowest,” Auto Accident Team CEO Leo Danconia said in a press release.

“We also looked at which states had the largest increase in drunk driving crashes over Labor Day weekend, finding Delaware had the most elevated rate of fatal crashes involving drunk drivers, and Rhode Island the least,” he said.

The data also shows Ohio differs from the national trend in other ways. The most dangerous day to drive in Ohio around the Labor Day holiday is Sunday, while the national average is the following Tuesday. However, there is still an increased risk of drunken-driving crashes on the holiday in Ohio, at 89% above the baseline.

The most dangerous hour in Ohio is between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Labor Day, while the national average is between midnight and 1 a.m. on Labor Day.

In Trumbull County, the Ohio State Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash Saturday that killed Mark Hiller, 35, of Newton Falls, on state Route 534 in Braceville. Though the state patrol has not said alcohol was a factor in the crash, it appears speed was. The state patrol also said Hiller was not wearing a seatbelt, and was ejected from the vehicle when he crossed the center line and sideswiped another vehicle. That caused him to drive off the road and his vehicle to overturn several times.

Hillier was pronounced dead at the scene.

State officials said there were 11 fatalities in 2023 in which seatbelts were available, but 10 of those victims were not wearing them. The state patrol report said victims in the other vehicle in the Braceville crash all were wearing seatbelts and reported no injuries.

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