SOUTHERN ILLINOIS TRAFFIC FATALITIES DROP IN FEBRUARY

DUQUOIN, Ill. -- Traffic deaths were down in the Southern Illinois District 13 area in February compared to February 1990, but deaths statewide were up for the month, Illinois State Police said.

Ninety deaths were reported statewide as a result of 83 accidents, 40.6 percent more than the 64 deaths in February a year ago. Included in the death totals were nine pedestrians and one bicycle rider.

District 13 death totals were down 67 percent in February, from 12 to four, police said.

Accident statistics released by Illinois State Police also showed that District 13 troopers were assigned to 136 accidents in February, and at least 50 of them were deer-related accidents.

Total fatalities statewide during the first two months of the year were down slightly, from 163 a year ago to 161 this year, police said.