A third fewer traffic fatalities were tallied on Georgia's roads than anticipated over the Christmas holiday weekend, authorities said.
The Georgia State Patrol reported that 12 people were killed during the 78-hour period that ended at midnight Sunday. Another 503 people were injured in 2,167 crashes.
The State Patrol had predicted that 18 people would die over the weekend, with 976 injuries. In 2008, 24 people died over the 102-hour Christmas holiday weekend.
Four of this year's fatalities occurred in metro Atlanta, according to the State Patrol. Cobb County police reported two fatalities, while DeKalb County and Morrow police each reported two fatalities.
The State Patrol is predicting that 16 people will be killed in wrecks over the 78-hour New Year's holiday period, which begins at 6 p.m. Thursday and ends at midnight Sunday.
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