State Police cruiser at the Butler Barracks. Butler Eagle file photo

Three people died and 70 were injured in 404 vehicle crashes investigated by state police over the three-day Christmas holiday weekend from Dec. 23-25.

All of those figures mark reductions from last year when seven people were killed and 113 were injured in 661 crashes over the three-day holiday, according to police.

Alcohol was not a factor in any of the fatal crashes this year, but it was a factor in two fatal crashes last year, according to police. There were 36 alcohol-related crashes both this year and last year.

Driving under the influence arrests increased from 116 last year to 198 this year, speeding citations increased from 451 to 1,036, child seat violations increased from 11 to 22, seat belt violations increased from 110 to 123 and the number of other citations increased from 2,248 to 2,853, police said.

This year in Troop D, which includes Butler County, alcohol was a factor in two of the eight crashes troopers investigated and one injury was reported. In addition, there were 12 DUI arrests, 27 speeding citations, five seat belt violations, 52 other citations and 12 criminal arrests.