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A Christmas Day storm turned highways into a nightmare...

A Christmas Day storm turned highways into a nightmare for holiday travelers visiting their families and friends for the long four-day weekend.

At least 26 persons were killed on the nation's highways since the holiday count began at 6 p.m. EST., a United Press International count showed. The weekend count officially ends at midnight Sunday.

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Three traffic deaths each were reported in Florida, North Carolina and Oklahoma, two each in Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and one each in Minnesota, Nebraska and South Carolina.

The National Safety Council estimated between 650 and 750 persons may lose their lives in traffic mishaps during the weekend. During the holiday last year 693 persons were killed in traffic accidents.

Six persons were killed in a Christmas Eve plane crash near Aberdeen, Miss. The single-engine Cessna crashed about 2,000 feet short of the Stinson Airport runway while attempting to land.

The pilot was Joe Nathan Brock, 55, president of the AFL-CIO in Detroit, authorities said. The other victims were identified as Lula Kemp, Detroit, and her four children.

Fires across the nation also claimed lives.

Six children -- ages 10 months to 14 -- of a Sioux city, Iowa, family were killed on Christmas Eve when a fire engulfed their two-story house.

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Edward Woods and his wife went to pick up Christmas presents being stored at a nearby relative's home when the fire broke out, authorities said. When Woods returned and found his house in flames, he attempted to save his family but was driven back by the intense heat. He suffered minor burns.

The children were identified as Latasha, 14, Laejandro, 11, Cubbie, 10, Angela, 9, Edward Jr. 5, and 10-month-old Sidney.

Officials believed the fire broke out near the family's Christmas tree.

In the Columbus, Ohio, suburb of Upper Arlington, six persons -- including four children -- died in a fire early Christmas Day.

The fire started in a family room fireplace of the two-story, home of Dr. James Ferraro, who was at church with his wife at the time.

The victims were identified as his mother, Carolyn Ferraro, 78, his sister, Carolyn Schoonover, 38, Pittsburgh, and the couple's children, James 15, Elizabeth, 13, Jeff, 10 and Tommy 6.

A fire at an animal clinic and kennel in Warren, R.I., early today killed more than 90 cats and dogs, officials said. Many of the pets were being housed at the kennel while their owners were away on vacation. Most died from smoke inhalation.

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'We only managed to save one, unfortunately -- a small dog,' a fire department spokesman said.

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