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ALPENA – Despite two fatal crashes last month, northern Michigan has logged fewer deaths related to crashes this August than in 2021, according to police.

Last August, police reported 14 fatal crashes in northern Michigan, which includes 19 northern Lower Peninsula counties covered by the Michigan State Police 7th District, MSP reported today.

Police reported 30% fewer crashes with injuries this August than in the same month last year, with 144 reported injury crashes last month compared to 209 last year, according to preliminary 2022 data.

MSP posts each year identify areas of high traffic crashes and fatalities and step up their traffic enforcement in those areas. MSP troopers will enforce traffic rules heavily over the Labor Day weekend to reduce crashes and fatalities, according to a news release.