July 5, 1961 - Oakland Tribue

Top Stories on July 5, 1961 -
ALGIERS — Algerian rebels stage violent mob attacks
in protest against French partition plan.
WASHINGTON — Serious dispute between Russia and
red China studied by U.S. officials.
MANILA—General MacArthur tells Philippine Congress
big question now is prevention of global war.
TEL AVIV — Israel fires first rocket for meteorological
research.
FOURTH OF JULY highway slaughter worst in history.

***
I have not yet found statistics on the number of highway deaths for 2009.

I did find a Google News story from 1966 that exceeded 1961's record number.

2004 study:

New Study Reveals July 4th Deadliest Day on America's Roads; July 3rd is the Second Deadliest

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2004_July_1/ai_n6091753/