State officials are reporting a new record number of deaths on Louisiana highways in 2021.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development says there were 997 deaths in 914 highway crashes last year. The previous record was 993 deaths in 2007.
Last year's total is up from 2020, when there were 828 fatalities in 762 crashes.
But officials say the 2021 figures are preliminary and may increase as more data becomes available.
Records show most highway deaths result from impaired or distracted driving.
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