While local and state law enforcement officers responded to wrecks over the Christmas weekend, they did not have to spend their holiday informing any family members that a loved one died in a vehicle crash.

According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol and local Oxford and Lafayette County officials, there were no reported fatalities on Mississippi’s highways or on local roadways.

During the MHP’s 2017 Christmas holiday travel period which began at 6 p.m. Friday and ended Monday at midnight, troopers issued 4,226 tickets and made 61 DUI arrests.

Of the 157 wrecks troopers responded to, 40 resulted in injuries; however, no fatalities.

“We attribute this to the high visibility of all available troopers and responsible decisions made by motorists traveling on the roadways,” said MHP spokesman Capt. Johnny Poulos.

Lafayette County Coroner Rocky Kennedy confirmed Tuesday there were no fatal wrecks in Oxford or Lafayette County during the Christmas holiday weekend.

The MHP safety initiative “Making It Home For The Holidays” will continue through the end of the year in order to promote traffic safety during the upcoming New Year’s weekend.