Traffic fatalities over Labor Day were down from 2022, but it was a deadly holiday weekend for Alabama teens.

Alabama State Troopers investigated eight traffic deaths between 12:01 a.m. Friday through midnight Monday. This is a decrease from 10 the previous year.

Those eight fatalities were the ones investigated by troopers, and do not include traffic deaths investigated by other law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

Three teens – ages 16 and 15 – died in crashes during the holiday weekend, and a fourth, age 17, died on Tuesday.

Troopers investigated the Monday morning death of 16-year-old Jaiden DeJarnett, a football player at Sparkman High School in Harvest. Authorities said he was killed when he led police on a pursuit into Lawrence County. Lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree.

Julius Jamear “J.J.” Staten, a 16-year-old football player in Albertville, died in a crash on his way to football practice Monday. The crash happened about 7 a.m. Monday in the 2500 block of Alabama Highway 205 North in Albertville.

That wreck was not investigated by troopers but by local police.

Brayden Ray, a 15-year-old Calera High School football player, died shortly after 12:30 a.m. Sunday in a single-vehicle wreck. Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans said the wreck happened on Highway 70 near the Waterford subdivision.

Authorities said it appears Brayden’s vehicle left the roadway and struck some trees. He was pronounced dead on the scene. That wreck also was worked by local police.

Lauren Dunn, a 17-year-old from Leeds, was killed at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday on Dunnavant Valley Road, about eight miles west of Vandiver. Senior Trooper Justin O’Neal said the teen was driving a 1999 Mercedes C280W that left the road and struck several trees. She was pronounced dead on the scene.

“While the Agency noticed a decrease in traffic fatalities this Labor Day weekend, our goal is always zero lives lost,” said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor. “The loss of a loved one is always devastating, however, when the loss is a child, it impacts families in a way that changes them forever.”

“As a parent, I cannot imagine the horror of losing a child at such a young age,’’ Taylor said. “I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to all the families who lost loved ones over this most recent holiday weekend.”

“Every year when school begins, we see a surge of students getting their Alabama Driver and Learners Licenses. We highly recommend that parents get involved and have a firm talk with their teenagers before they hit the road,’’ said ALEA’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director, Colonel Jon Archer. “Sadly, due to their inexperience and limited skills, teens are more prone to traffic accidents.”

“We urge parents to conduct practice driving sessions with their teens and go over the rules of the road together,’’ Archer said. “Remember, parents and guardians have more influence than they might realize. Set a good example and actively participate in your teen’s driving journey right from the start.”

The eight fatalities investigated by troopers happened in Montgomery, Marion, Marshall, Cullman, Washington, Randolph, Tuscaloosa and Lawrence counties.

Of the eight fatalities, four victims were not using seat belts and the fifth involved an ATV where the victim not using restraints.

The sixth fatality involved a motorcycle where the operator was using a helmet and in the seventh incident, the victim was using a seat belt. Authorities are unable to determine with the victim in the eight incident was using a seat belt at the time of crash.

For the second year in a row, authorities said, there were no marine-related deaths during the Labor Day, the Fourth of July or Memorial Day holiday weekends.

“Our Marine Patrol Division works diligently to take every opportunity to educate the public whether it is during a patrol stop, vessel check or at a public safety event,’’ Taylor said. “They have done an outstanding job educating and patrolling the waterways during the busiest weekends of the year; however, this success would not be possible without the assistance and care of each boater.

“We hope this trend continues each year and we encourage parents to also educate their teens on water and boating safety, as many will obtain their vessel license along with their Alabama Driver License,” he said.

ALEA’s Aviation Unit partnered with the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to patrol beaches from the air and to assist with rescuing swimmers in distress as well as other incidents.

During the holiday weekend, ALEA pilots responded to assist two swimmers and performed approximately 10 beach safety flights.