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The Utah Department of Transportation gives highway death toll with grim backdrop

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sergeant Todd Royce with the Utah Highway Patrol discusses the 87 fatalities represented near the Calvin Rampton Building in Taylorsville, marking roadway fatalities during the 100 Deadliest Days in 2017. The recorded span between Memorial Day and Labor Day saw a decrease of seven from the same span last year.

Eighty-seven people died on Utah highways so far this year — down seven from the same period a year ago.

The Utah Department of Transportation held a news conference Wednesday to announce the numbers with a backdrop of 87 prop markers in the lawn of the Calvin Rampton Building that houses UDOT. 

This count concludes what UDOT refers to as the 100 deadliest days — running through the end-of-summer Labor Day holiday.

Among the statistic emphasized by highway and safety officials: about one-third of the fatal crashes involved people who had not been using seat belts.