Almost two dozen die on roads in Georgia and Alabama during Memorial Day weekend

Law enforcement authorities in Georgia and Alabama investigated 23 traffic deaths during the Memorial Day weekend, officials said in a release.

During the 78-hour period from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight Monday, the Georgia Department of Public Safety reported 12 fatalities across the state while the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated 11 traffic deaths.

Five of the Georgia deaths were investigated by state troopers and seven by local agencies such as the Gwinnett County police, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the Newton County Sheriff’s and the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. Deaths in Alabama included four drivers, three passengers and four motorcyclists in crashes that occurred in Bullock, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman, Houston, Mobile and Washington counties.

Secretary of Law Enforcement Stan Stabler said it was a deadly Memorial Day weekend in Alabama.

“One death is one too many,” he said. “We urge motorists to use seat belts no matter how short the drive. It also is important that everyone on a boat has a life jacket. Please help us make this a safe summer.”

The four motorcyclists were using helmets. Only four of the other seven victims killed were using seat belts.

No information was available on alcohol use in connection with the crashes as Alabama state troopers continue to investigate the incidents.

Authorities also said there were no boating fatalities on the waterways in Alabama for the second Memorial Day weekend in a row.

Troopers in Alabama will continue to take part in the Click It or Ticket, a national safety campaign promoting the use of seat belts.

Memorial Day was the second-highest travel volume on record and the most since 2005, AAA said in a release. Some of the traveling was attributed to lower gas prices.

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 6:51 PM with the headline "Almost two dozen die on roads in Georgia and Alabama during Memorial Day weekend."