Overall transportation deaths in the United States fell slightly in 2004, but fatalities caused by pipelines rose significantly, according to preliminary figures released Monday by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The board reported that deaths from all transportation modes nationwide last year totaled 44,870, down from 45,158 fatalities in 2003. The drop was due to reduced highway, aviation and marine fatalities.

But pipeline deaths last year doubled from 12 in 2003 to 24 in 2004, with 19 of them related to natural gas pipeline accidents and five to liquid pipeline operations, the NTSB said in its annual toll.

Rail-related fatalities rose from 760 in 2003 to 802 last year, reflecting a rise in every category except passenger fatalities, which remained at three, according to the board.

©Copyright 2005Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.