LANSING — The Michigan State Police (MSP) announced the results of preliminary reports that indicate five people lost their lives in four separate traffic crashes during the 2016 Memorial Day holiday weekend. In comparison, six traffic crashes resulted in eight deaths during the 2015 Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Restraints were unknown in two crashes, a restraint was not used in another crash, and the other victims were a pedestrian and a motorcyclist. The motorcyclist killed was wearing a helmet. Alcohol use was an unknown factor in two of the crashes and not a factor in the other two crashes.

“These numbers are preliminary and only reflect those fatalities reported to the MSP as of 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 31, 2016,” stated Capt. Thomas Deasy, commander of the MSP Training Division. “The preliminary numbers show a decrease in fatalities from this same holiday period last year. The MSP continues to urge motorists not to drink and drive, to always use proper restraints and to drive safely.”

The 2016 Memorial Day holiday weekend ran from 6 p.m. on Friday, May 27, through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 30, 2016.