In 2011, King County saw the fewest traffic deaths and homicides in more than 10 years, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s (KCME) Annual Report released today.

In contrast, drug-induced deaths are an increasing concern in King County.The KCME 2011 Annual Report presents a detailed analysis of deaths that fell under KCME’s jurisdiction in 2011, including suspicious, sudden, unexpected or violent deaths in King County, as well as trends in homicides, traffic fatalities and drug overdose deaths.

The full King County Medical Examiner’s 2011 Annual Report is available at, visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/examiner.

Findings from the 2011 annual report include:Compared with 2010, KCME saw fewer homicides and traffic deaths, and an increase in suicides.More people died as a result of accidental overdoses (203) than traffic crashes (135).

The number of deaths in which oxycodone was present increased by 30 percent, from 65 in 2010 to 85 in 2011.

In 2011, there were an estimated 13,355 deaths in King County. KCME assumed jurisdiction in 2,112 deaths and performed autopsies 59 percent (1,196) of the time.