The state police announced that it investigated more crashes during the Thanksgiving weekend this year than last year.

State police investigated 981 crashes between Nov. 22 and 26, an increase of 5.4 percent over last year’s mark of 931 crashes.

There were four fatal crashes this year, compared to six last year, and 629 DUI arrests this year, compared to 610 last year.

In Troop D, which covers Butler, Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer and Armstrong counties, there were 40 crashes, 14 crashes with injuries and six alcohol-related crashes.

There was also one fatal crash. On Thursday, Steven M.K. Bellas, 21, a Karns City High School graduate, died in a crash in Bradys Bend Township, Armstrong County. Troop D made 41 DUI arrests over Thanksgiving weekend and issued 538 speeding tickets, 73 seat belt warnings, 51 seat belt citations and 570 other citations.

The statistics cover investigations done by state police and do not include municipal police departments.