State Highway 85 in Georgia: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 49 fatal crashes on State Highway 85 in Georgia killed 51 people, the 52nd most of 476 numbered roads in Georgia. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 5 deaths on the road.
A state highway running through 6 counties of Georgia. All fatal crashes in Georgia.
Deaths on State Highway 85 in Georgia by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 | 4 |
| 2022 | 7 | 7 |
| 2021 | 7 | 7 |
| 2020 | 11 | 12 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 85 in Georgia: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Clayton County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 85 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 26 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clayton County | 3 | 26 | 26 |
| 2 | Fayette County | 1 | 14 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on State Highway 85 in Georgia
49 fatal crashes on State Highway 85 in Georgia 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 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is January.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 4.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 4.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 8.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 8.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 8.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan16.3%
- Feb6.1%
- Mar6.1%
- Apr12.2%
- May10.2%
- Jun14.3%
- Jul6.1%
- Aug8.2%
- Sep6.1%
- Oct6.1%
- Nov2.0%
- Dec6.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on State Highway 85 in Georgia first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 43%; a pedestrian in 41%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 10%, a cyclist in 4.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 21 | 43% |
| Pedestrian | 20 | 41% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 5 | 10% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 4.1% |
| Other | 1 | 2.0% |
| Rollover | 0 | 0.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 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 on State Highway 85 in Georgia compare with the state
The largest difference from Georgia: from 2015 to 2024, 24% of occupants killed on State Highway 85 in Georgia were unbelted, against 49% across Georgia. Also above the Georgia share: pedestrians. Below it: rural roads and drinking drivers. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Georgia. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 49 crashes.
| State Highway 85 | Georgia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 16% | 36% | below the Georgia share |
| At or near an intersection | 31% | 24% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 39% | 37% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| A drinking driver | 6.1% | 20% | below the Georgia share |
| Speeding | 14% | 19% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.1% | 4.2% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 24% | 49% | below the Georgia share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.1% | 5.3% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.1% | 12% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 39% | 17% | above the Georgia 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 on State Highway 85 in Georgia
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 85 in Georgia?
- 49 fatal crashes killed 51 people on State Highway 85 in Georgia from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 5 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on State Highway 85 in Georgia do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Clayton County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 85 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 26 deaths. Fayette County was second with 14.
Other roads in Georgia with a page
- I-16
- I-20
- I-285
- I-75
- I-85
- I-95
- State Highway 1
- State Highway 10
- State Highway 11
- State Highway 124
- State Highway 136
- State Highway 138
All fatal crashes in Georgia, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 85 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as State Highway 85 in Georgia. Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.