The number of traffic fatalities in Minnesota topped 300 this week, which is about 14 percent lower than the 350 fatalities reported this same time last year, according to a news release issued this week by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

In Freeborn County, there have been nine traffic fatalities so far this year, which equals 3 percent of the state’s fatalities, according to the county records office.

Though the fatalities are down across the state, in Freeborn County they are the highest they have been in at least the last five years. Last year there were two fatalities; in 2006 there were six; in 2004 there were eight; and in 2005 there were four.

This year, three of Freeborn County’s traffic fatalities occurred at the site of a washout on Freeborn County Road 34 in Oakland Township. Heavy rains June 11 and 12 caused damage below the culvert underneath the road, resulting in complete failure. The floods created a washout 30 feet wide.

Two others took place as a result of a head-on collision on southbound Interstate 35 near the Minnesota-Iowa border after a pickup crossed the median and hit another pickup in August.

Another happened during a motorcycle-pickup collision on Freeborn County Road 35, northeast of Hartland, in July.

The seventh took place in April after a crash at the interchange of Minnesota Highway 13 and Interstate 90. The driver of a Freestar van was coming off the ramp from westbound I-90 and turning onto Highway 13 when she collided with a dump truck that was already on Highway 13. The driver of the van died.

The eighth fatality happened in February after two cars collided near the intersection of Freeborn County roads 19 and 30.

And the ninth fatality was an 8-year-old who died after a crash on Interstate 35 near mile marker 2.

Cheri Marti, director of the Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety, said: “The most critical component to limit traffic deaths and serious injuries is to buckle up; in addition, motorists must pay attention, travel at safe speeds and drive sober.”

While Freeborn County numbers are up from previous years, Department of Public Safety officials said increased seat belt use, targeted impaired and aggressive driving patrols, road safety improvements and emergency medical service efforts have contributed to the lower count across the state. Higher gas prices have also contributed to the drop in deaths observed across the state, but it is unknown to what extent, the release stated.

At the rate deaths have occurred so far this year, officials project there will be about 450 traffic deaths by the end of the year in Minnesota, which averages out to nine traffic fatalities each week, according to the release.

The Toward Zero Deaths program — the state’s cornerstone traffic safety initiative — encourages law enforcement, engineers, emergency medical technicians, educators and communication professionals to reduce crashes through education, enforcement, engineering and emergency medical strategies.