RALEIGH -- The North Carolina Highway Patrol announced on Monday a preliminary number of seven motorists who died on North Carolina highways during the July 4th holiday period. That half the number of traffic fatalities during the same period a year ago -- which some would consider a "win," -- but State Trooper Mike Blair says one death is too many.

Trooper Blair says, "The main goal of the highway patrol is to get through any holiday period or any year, making sure that no one loses their life on a North Carolina highway. Unfortunately, that's not the case. But, again, we are proud to say that we have cut that number from last year by 50 percent."

The 4th of July holiday weekend was measured between 6PM on Thursday, July 3, through midnight on Sunday, July 6th.