GALLIPOLIS — The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported Wednesday that Labor Day fatalities were down from last year.

Law enforcement agencies reported 12 fatal crashes across the state, killing 12 people, from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight Monday. Last year, 18 people were killed during a similar reporting period.

As part of the national “Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” campaign, which ran from Aug. 21 through Sept. 7, the patrol arrested 1,564 motorists for OVI. During this holiday weekend alone, troopers removed 596 impaired drivers off Ohio roadways.

The Gallia-Meigs Post of the OSHP reported no fatal accidents over the weekend, though three fatal accidents did occur in Meigs and Gallia counties during the week leading up to Labor Day.

The following are state statistics for the 2009 Labor Day Holiday reporting period:

• Eight fatal crashes resulting in eight killed and five injured occurred on state and federal highways.

• Two fatal crashes resulting in two killed and six injured occurred on county/township roads.

• One fatal crash resulting in one killed occurred on a city street.

• One fatal crash resulting in one killed occurred on a turnpike.

• Three fatalities involved a motorcycle or ATV with a helmet worn in only one incident.

• Two fatalities were listed under pedestrian/other/unknown.

• Of the remaining seven fatalities, safety belts were used in four instances, were not used in one incident, and usage was unknown in two.