Austin police announced Thursday the city’s total number of traffic fatalities in 2012 dropped from 80 to 78 after two deaths were deemed suicides.

The first death deducted from the total occurred May 15, when a pedestrian walked onto the roadway, knelt down, and was struck by a Mazda SUV near 38th and Guadalupe.

The driver of the Mazda fled the scene, but was later arrested.

The second incident was on October 2, when police say 28-year-old Joshua White stepped from the median on the lower deck of Interstate-35 into oncoming traffic.

A Dodge Dakota pickup struck White and he was pronounced dead on the scene.

The driver of the Dodge did not face charges.

Police say that for record keeping purposes, suicides do not count as traffic fatalities.