Fatal crashes in Colorado
In 2024, 689 people died in 642 fatal crashes on Colorado roads, 4.3% fewer than in 2023. That is about 2 deaths a day, and 1.8% of all road deaths in the United States.
Colorado ranks 22nd of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and 27th by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in Colorado since 1975
Road deaths in Colorado peaked in 2022 at 764; 2024's 689 is 10% below that. The lowest year was 2011 with 447. 2024 is 1% above 2000 and 19% above 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 689 | 642 | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 720 | 666 | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 764 | 699 | +10.6% |
| 2021 | 691 | 638 | +11.1% |
| 2020 | 622 | 574 | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 597 | 545 | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 632 | 588 | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 648 | 600 | +6.6% |
| 2016 | 608 | 558 | +11.2% |
| 2015 | 547 | 507 | +12.1% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 488 | 451 | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 482 | 432 | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 474 | 434 | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 447 | 407 | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 450 | 411 | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 465 | 437 | -15.1% |
| 2008 | 548 | 473 | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 554 | 508 | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 535 | 485 | -11.7% |
| 2005 | 606 | 554 | -9.1% |
| 2004 | 667 | 596 | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 642 | 570 | -13.6% |
| 2002 | 743 | 677 | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 741 | 647 | +8.8% |
| 2000 | 681 | 613 | +8.8% |
| 1999 | 626 | 558 | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 628 | 551 | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 613 | 534 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 617 | 555 | -4.3% |
| 1995 | 645 | 572 | +10.1% |
| 1994 | 586 | 523 | +4.8% |
| 1993 | 559 | 511 | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 522 | 477 | -3.9% |
| 1991 | 543 | 480 | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 544 | 492 | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 527 | 481 | +6.0% |
| 1988 | 497 | 450 | -15.9% |
| 1987 | 591 | 516 | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 603 | 507 | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 579 | 526 | -4.8% |
| 1984 | 608 | 543 | -5.9% |
| 1983 | 646 | 591 | -3.3% |
| 1982 | 668 | 598 | -11.6% |
| 1981 | 756 | 675 | +6.6% |
| 1980 | 709 | 625 | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 691 | 618 | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 694 | 599 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 694 | 612 | +11.9% |
| 1976 | 620 | 543 | +6.7% |
| 1975 | 581 | 507 | No data |
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads and most dangerous highways in Colorado
I-25 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Colorado from 2015 to 2024: 331, with 367 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 39% of all fatal crashes in Colorado from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 11 US routes, 6 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (160 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in Colorado, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-25 | 331 | 367 | 105 | El Paso, Pueblo, Larimer |
| 2 | I-70 | 287 | 322 | 97 | Garfield, Arapahoe, Denver |
| 3 | US 287 | 177 | 210 | 62 | Larimer, Boulder, Adams |
| 4 | US 40 | 175 | 193 | 66 | Denver, Jefferson, Arapahoe |
| 5 | US 50 | 162 | 177 | 48 | Pueblo, Fremont, Gunnison |
| 6 | US 85 | 144 | 169 | 48 | Weld, Adams, Douglas |
| 7 | US 160 | 136 | 146 | 40 | La Plata, Montezuma, Archuleta |
| 8 | I-76 | 122 | 137 | 32 | Adams, Weld, Morgan |
| 9 | US 24 | 106 | 119 | 31 | El Paso, Teller, Park |
| 10 | US 285 | 102 | 110 | 29 | Jefferson, Park, Arapahoe |
| 11 | US 6 | 100 | 108 | 30 | Jefferson, Mesa, Adams |
| 12 | US 34 | 93 | 109 | 37 | Weld, Larimer, Morgan |
| 13 | State Highway 83 | 70 | 78 | 20 | Douglas, Arapahoe, El Paso |
| 14 | State Highway 121 | 62 | 64 | 16 | Jefferson, Broomfield, Denver |
| 15 | US 550 | 57 | 60 | 14 | Ouray, La Plata, Montrose |
| 16 | US 36 | 53 | 58 | 20 | Boulder, Adams, Arapahoe |
| 17 | State Highway 95 | 49 | 51 | 22 | Denver, Jefferson, Adams |
| 18 | State Highway 14 | 48 | 52 | 21 | Weld, Larimer, Jackson |
| 19 | State Highway 88 | 46 | 47 | 16 | Denver, Arapahoe |
| 20 | State Highway 30 | 42 | 47 | 15 | Arapahoe, Denver |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every numbered road in Colorado as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/colorado/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in Colorado
El Paso County had the most fatal crashes in Colorado from 2015 to 2024: 681, with 721 deaths. El Paso, Adams and Denver counties together held 31% of fatal crashes in Colorado from 2015 to 2024; the 20 listed held 84%. 64 counties in Colorado recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed, with deaths per 100,000 residents where the county had 10 or more deaths in 2024.
Per resident, Park County has the highest rate in Colorado: 29.6 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 11.4 for the state as a whole. Counties with fewer than 10,000 residents are hatched rather than shaded: a few crashes on a highway through a small county make a rate that says more about its population than its roads.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | Deaths per 100,000100K, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso County | 73 | 681 | 721 | 10.4 |
| 2 | Adams County | 79 | 591 | 635 | 15.5 |
| 3 | Denver County | 62 | 581 | 608 | 8.6 |
| 4 | Weld County | 62 | 508 | 569 | 18.1 |
| 5 | Arapahoe County | 55 | 464 | 501 | 8.2 |
| 6 | Jefferson County | 52 | 450 | 478 | 9.3 |
| 7 | Larimer County | 29 | 319 | 352 | 9.3 |
| 8 | Pueblo County | 21 | 266 | 290 | 14.7 |
| 9 | Boulder County | 22 | 233 | 255 | 7.0 |
| 10 | Douglas County | 19 | 192 | 207 | 4.8 |
| 11 | Mesa County | 15 | 174 | 181 | 10.5 |
| 12 | La Plata County | 11 | 88 | 97 | 19.4 |
| 13 | Garfield County | 6 | 87 | 101 | Not enough data |
| 14 | Fremont County | 11 | 74 | 77 | 22.0 |
| 15 | Morgan County | 6 | 70 | 78 | 33.0 |
| 16 | Montrose County | 8 | 54 | 61 | 22.3 |
| 17 | Park County | 4 | 51 | 53 | Not enough data |
| 18 | Logan County | 3 | 49 | 55 | Not enough data |
| 19 | Montezuma County | 4 | 49 | 52 | Not enough data |
| 20 | Delta County | 5 | 48 | 51 | Not enough data |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/colorado/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in Colorado
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 4 to 8 pm, with 249 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.3 percent, 196 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 98 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 184 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 194 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 189 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.6 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 124 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 91 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 160 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 180 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 136 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 63 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 101 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 102 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 169 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 180 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 129 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.0 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 105 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 157 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 207 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 140 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 84 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 100 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 110 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 156 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 178 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 161 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.6 percent, 98 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 80 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 113 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 138 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 234 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 223 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.9 percent, 172 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 94 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 141 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 211 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 249 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 213 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.3%
- Feb5.7%
- Mar6.5%
- Apr8.0%
- May8.4%
- Jun10.0%
- Jul10.6%
- Aug10.2%
- Sep10.5%
- Oct9.6%
- Nov7.5%
- Dec6.7%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Colorado: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
39% of fatal crashes in Colorado from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, below the US share of 43%; 32% happened at or near an intersection, above the US share of 25%; 21% in the dark on unlit roads, below the US share of 28%; most, 50%, in daylight. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Colorado | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 39% | 43% | below the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 32% | 25% | above the US share |
| In daylight | 50% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 25% | 21% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 21% | 28% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Colorado roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 57% of the 689 people killed on Colorado roads in 2024; motorcyclists 24% (165), pedestrians 16% (112), cyclists 2.0% (14).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 390 | 57% |
| Motorcyclists | 165 | 24% |
| Pedestrians | 112 | 16% |
| Cyclists | 14 | 2.0% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 8 | 1.2% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Colorado: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 34% of fatal crashes in Colorado from 2015 to 2024, above the US share of 26%; speeding in 35%, above the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 6.1%, about the US share; a driver recorded as distracted in 9.8%, above the US share of 8.7%; 54% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above the US share of 49%.
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (3,701 in Colorado).
| Colorado | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 34% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 35% | 27% | above the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.8% | 8.7% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 54% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.1% | 6.5% | about the same as the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 21% | 16% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 39%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 24%, a rollover in 15%, a pedestrian in 14%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 2,346 | 39% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 1,422 | 24% |
| Rollover | 875 | 15% |
| Pedestrian | 860 | 14% |
| Other | 291 | 4.8% |
| Cyclist | 166 | 2.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 57 | 0.9% |
| 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
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Colorado
Cars were 31% of the 9,286 vehicles in fatal crashes in Colorado from 2015 to 2024, SUVs 24%, pickups 17%, motorcycles 14%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 2,901 | 31% |
| SUVs | 2,214 | 24% |
| Pickups | 1,623 | 17% |
| Motorcycles | 1,288 | 14% |
| Truck-tractors | 479 | 5.2% |
| Other trucks | 429 | 4.6% |
| Vans | 301 | 3.2% |
| Buses | 51 | 0.5% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in Colorado per resident and per mile driven
| Colorado | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 11.6 | 11.5 | about the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 11.4 | 11.8 | about the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 1.25 | 1.19 | above the US rate |
Population 5,957,493 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 55,068 million vehicle-miles (FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, table VM-2). The only figures on this page not counted from FARS.
Questions about fatal crashes in Colorado
- How many people died in car accidents in Colorado in 2024?
- 689 people died in 642 fatal crashes on Colorado roads in 2024, 4.3% fewer than in 2023. That is 11.6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.5 across the United States. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Colorado?
- I-25 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Colorado from 2015 to 2024: 331, with 367 deaths. I-70 was second with 287.
- Which county in Colorado has the most fatal crashes?
- El Paso County, with 681 fatal crashes and 721 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 73 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in Colorado happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 4 to 8 pm, with 249 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Colorado involved a drinking driver?
- 2,049 of 6,017 fatal crashes in Colorado from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 34%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for Colorado
Every county in Colorado with 30 or more fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, roads, hour and weekday, and deaths per 100,000 residents.
- El Paso County 681
- Adams County 591
- Denver County 581
- Weld County 508
- Arapahoe County 464
- Jefferson County 450
- Larimer County 319
- Pueblo County 266
- Boulder County 233
- Douglas County 192
- Mesa County 174
- La Plata County 88
- Garfield County 87
- Fremont County 74
- Morgan County 70
- Montrose County 54
- Park County 51
- Logan County 49
- Montezuma County 49
- Delta County 48
- Eagle County 45
- Gunnison County 39
- Routt County 39
- Summit County 37
- Lincoln County 36
- Elbert County 35
- Broomfield County 34
- Chaffee County 34
- Kit Carson County 34
- Huerfano County 32
- Alamosa County 31
- Clear Creek County 31
- Washington County 31
- Otero County 30
- Saguache County 30
Road pages for Colorado
Every numbered road in Colorado with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Colorado numbers come from
Every figure on this page except the rates is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I-35", "I 35" and "I-35/PURPLE HEART TRL" are the same road); frontage roads and ramps ("I35 FRONTAGE") are left out of road counts. Totals from the state highway department and news reports can differ by a few: they count from the state's own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked and revised once a year. Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". Rates per resident and per mile use Census Bureau population estimates and FHWA vehicle-miles, the only figures not counted from FARS. The full method.