Statistically, Grundy County did not suffer a significant increase in fatalities due to traffic accidents than previous years, but law enforcement officials say any loss of life is too much and, year after year, it doesn't seem to be decreasing.

Looking back at the most read Morris Daily Herald articles of 2012, crime and accident reports top the list. But this year, those reports of loss of life seem to top the local news.

The Grundy County Coroner's office saw seven deaths due to traffic accidents this year, Coroner John Callahan said, but this does not include accidents in Grundy County whose victims were transported to hospitals out of the county and later died. Last year, there were five fatalities due to traffic accidents.