Preliminary reports indicate 10 individuals died in traffic crashes on Virginia highways during the July 4 holiday statistical counting period that began at 12:01 a.m. July 2 and concluded at midnight July 5, according to the Virginia State Police.

Four of the crashes involved motorcycles and a fifth was an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Since Jan. 1 through July 7, preliminary reports indicated 399 lives have been lost to traffic crashes in Virginia, compared to 395 during the same period in 2020.

The 10 fatal crashes occurred in Botetourt, Campbell, Chesterfield, Essex, Fairfax, Mecklenburg, Patrick and Stafford counties and the City of Newport News. The fatal motorcycle crashes occurred in Botetourt, Essex, Fairfax and Stafford counties; the Patrick County crash involved the ATV.

During the four-day statistical counting period, Virginia troopers arrested 61 drunk drivers, cited 4,025 speeders and 1,434 reckless drivers, and issued 510 citations to individuals for failing to bu...