Fatal crashes in Santa Cruz County, Arizona
In 2024, 7 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, down from 9 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 59 fatal crashes and 67 deaths, the 14th most of 15 counties in Arizona.
Deaths in Santa Cruz County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 7 |
| 2023 | 6 | 9 |
| 2022 | 7 | 8 |
| 2021 | 8 | 8 |
| 2020 | 5 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 |
| 2018 | 6 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 | 6 |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 |
| 2015 | 5 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Santa Cruz County
I-19 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Santa Cruz County from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 28 deaths. The 2 roads listed held 63% of all fatal crashes in Santa Cruz County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 state highway. 69% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 31% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-19 | 26 | 28 | 7 | |
| 2 | State Highway 82 | 11 | 17 | 5 | no page |
Nogales had 22% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 13 of 59.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Nogales 13, Rio Rico 6, Tubac 5. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Santa Cruz County
57 fatal crashes in Santa Cruz County, Arizona from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is noon to 1 pm; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 7.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 8.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.1%
- Feb13.6%
- Mar1.7%
- Apr13.6%
- May32.2%
- Jun8.5%
- Jul5.1%
- Aug6.8%
- Sep5.1%
- Oct3.4%
- Nov1.7%
- Dec3.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Santa Cruz County first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 36%; a collision with another vehicle in 20%, a rollover in 19%, a pedestrian in 10%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 21 | 36% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 12 | 20% |
| Rollover | 11 | 19% |
| Pedestrian | 6 | 10% |
| Other | 3 | 5.1% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 3.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.7% |
| Not reported | 3 | 5.1% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Santa Cruz County compare with Arizona
The largest difference from Arizona: from 2015 to 2024, 5.5% of fatal crashes in Santa Cruz County were at or near an intersection, against 31% across Arizona. Also above the Arizona share: rural roads. Below it: pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Arizona. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 59 crashes.
| Santa Cruz | Arizona | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 56% | 31% | above the Arizona share |
| At or near an intersection | 5.5% | 31% | below the Arizona share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 16% | 17% | about the same as the Arizona share |
| A drinking driver | 27% | 22% | about the same as the Arizona share |
| Speeding | 32% | 33% | about the same as the Arizona share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 10% | 8.1% | about the same as the Arizona share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 62% | 54% | about the same as the Arizona share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.1% | 7.8% | about the same as the Arizona share |
| A motorcycle involved | 8.5% | 18% | about the same as the Arizona share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.0% | 21% | below the Arizona share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in Santa Cruz County, Arizona
- How many people died in car accidents in Santa Cruz County in 2024?
- 7 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, in 2024, down from 9 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Santa Cruz County?
- I-19 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Santa Cruz County from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 28 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Santa Cruz County involved a drinking driver?
- 16 of 59 fatal crashes in Santa Cruz County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 27%, against 22% across Arizona.
Other counties in Arizona with a page
- Maricopa County
- Pima County
- Pinal County
- Mohave County
- Yavapai County
- Coconino County
- Navajo County
- Apache County
- Yuma County
- Cochise County
- Gila County
- La Paz County
All fatal crashes in Arizona, with every county ranked.
Where the Santa Cruz County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Santa Cruz County (county code 23). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/arizona/santa-cruz-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”