Fatal crashes in Prairie County, Arkansas
In 2024, 9 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Prairie County, Arkansas, up from 4 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 31 fatal crashes and 33 deaths, the 58th most of 75 counties in Arkansas.
Deaths in Prairie County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 9 |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 |
| 2017 | 8 | 8 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Prairie County
I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Prairie County from 2015 to 2024: 11, with 12 deaths. The 1 road listed held 35% of all fatal crashes in Prairie County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate. 94% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 6.5% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-40 | 11 | 12 | 5 |
Hazen had 32% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 10 of 31.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Hazen 10. 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 Prairie County
31 fatal crashes in Prairie County, Arkansas 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 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 9.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan0.0%
- Feb12.9%
- Mar9.7%
- Apr9.7%
- May12.9%
- Jun3.2%
- Jul9.7%
- Aug6.5%
- Sep16.1%
- Oct0.0%
- Nov12.9%
- Dec6.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Prairie County first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in most fatal crashes, 61%; a collision with another vehicle in 29%, a rollover in 6.5%, a pedestrian in 3.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 19 | 61% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 9 | 29% |
| Rollover | 2 | 6.5% |
| Pedestrian | 1 | 3.2% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| Other | 0 | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Prairie County compare with Arkansas
The largest difference from Arkansas: from 2015 to 2024, 97% of fatal crashes in Prairie County were on rural roads, against 63% across Arkansas. Also above the Arkansas share: unbelted occupants. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Arkansas. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 31 crashes.
| Prairie | Arkansas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 97% | 63% | above the Arkansas share |
| At or near an intersection | 6.5% | 15% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 36% | 34% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| A drinking driver | 32% | 27% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| Speeding | 13% | 22% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 0.0% | 3.6% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 72% | 54% | above the Arkansas share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.2% | 3.9% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 3.2% | 15% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 3.0% | 11% | about the same as the Arkansas 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 Prairie County, Arkansas
- How many people died in car accidents in Prairie County in 2024?
- 9 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Prairie County, Arkansas, in 2024, up from 4 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Prairie County?
- I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Prairie County from 2015 to 2024: 11, with 12 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Prairie County involved a drinking driver?
- 10 of 31 fatal crashes in Prairie County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 32%, against 27% across Arkansas.
Other counties in Arkansas with a page
- Pulaski County
- Washington County
- Benton County
- Garland County
- Craighead County
- Faulkner County
- White County
- Sebastian County
- Saline County
- Crittenden County
- Jefferson County
- Lonoke County
All fatal crashes in Arkansas, with every county ranked.
Where the Prairie County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Prairie County (county code 117). 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/arkansas/prairie-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”