Fatal crashes in Kansas
In 2024, 339 people died in 314 fatal crashes on Kansas roads, 12.4% fewer than in 2023. That is about 1 death a day, and 0.9% of all road deaths in the United States.
Kansas ranks 34th of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and 28th by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in Kansas since 1975
Road deaths in Kansas peaked in 1980 at 595; 2024's 339 is 43% below that. 2024 is 26% below 2000 and 33% below 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 339 | 314 | -12.4% |
| 2023 | 387 | 353 | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 410 | 364 | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 423 | 380 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 426 | 382 | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 410 | 361 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 405 | 367 | -12.1% |
| 2017 | 461 | 407 | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 429 | 381 | +20.8% |
| 2015 | 355 | 322 | -7.8% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 385 | 341 | +10.0% |
| 2013 | 350 | 327 | -13.6% |
| 2012 | 405 | 368 | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 386 | 350 | -10.4% |
| 2010 | 431 | 376 | +11.7% |
| 2009 | 386 | 348 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 384 | 347 | -7.7% |
| 2007 | 416 | 379 | -11.1% |
| 2006 | 468 | 427 | +9.3% |
| 2005 | 428 | 384 | -6.8% |
| 2004 | 459 | 390 | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 469 | 419 | -7.5% |
| 2002 | 507 | 445 | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 494 | 432 | +7.2% |
| 2000 | 461 | 405 | -14.6% |
| 1999 | 540 | 457 | +9.8% |
| 1998 | 492 | 440 | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 482 | 420 | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 490 | 442 | +10.9% |
| 1995 | 442 | 394 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 442 | 381 | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 428 | 375 | +10.6% |
| 1992 | 387 | 337 | -5.4% |
| 1991 | 409 | 350 | -7.9% |
| 1990 | 444 | 391 | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 428 | 371 | -11.4% |
| 1988 | 483 | 406 | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 491 | 415 | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 500 | 413 | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 486 | 429 | -4.7% |
| 1984 | 510 | 451 | +24.1% |
| 1983 | 411 | 361 | -17.5% |
| 1982 | 498 | 436 | -14.1% |
| 1981 | 580 | 510 | -2.5% |
| 1980 | 595 | 506 | +14.6% |
| 1979 | 519 | 451 | -9.3% |
| 1978 | 572 | 498 | +3.6% |
| 1977 | 552 | 483 | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 549 | 463 | +7.9% |
| 1975 | 509 | 433 | 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 Kansas
I-70 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Kansas from 2015 to 2024: 178, with 213 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 34% of all fatal crashes in Kansas from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 14 US routes, 2 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (25 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in Kansas, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-70 | 178 | 213 | 40 | Wyandotte, Shawnee, Gove |
| 2 | I-35 | 116 | 130 | 39 | Johnson, Franklin, Sedgwick |
| 3 | US 54 | 102 | 131 | 28 | Sedgwick, Pratt, Butler |
| 4 | US 24 | 87 | 102 | 20 | Riley, Pottawatomie, Jefferson |
| 5 | US 50 | 82 | 99 | 18 | Finney, Ford, Reno |
| 6 | US 56 | 69 | 83 | 20 | McPherson, Marion, Gray |
| 7 | US 75 | 66 | 77 | 19 | Jackson, Shawnee, Brown |
| 8 | US 160 | 64 | 76 | 18 | Cowley, Sumner, Montgomery |
| 9 | I-135 | 54 | 60 | 17 | Sedgwick, Harvey, Saline |
| 10 | US 169 | 49 | 56 | 15 | Montgomery, Neosho, Allen |
| 11 | US 400 | 47 | 63 | 12 | Greenwood, Wilson, Labette |
| 12 | US 69 | 46 | 53 | 12 | Johnson, Crawford, Wyandotte |
| 13 | US 59 | 38 | 47 | 8 | Labette, Atchison, Anderson |
| 14 | US 36 | 37 | 37 | 13 | Norton, Doniphan, Jewell |
| 15 | US 77 | 36 | 37 | 11 | Geary, Cowley, Butler |
| 16 | US 166 | 35 | 41 | 7 | Montgomery, Cherokee, Chautauqua |
| 17 | US 83 | 34 | 36 | 4 | Finney, Seward, Scott |
| 18 | I-435 | 34 | 35 | 12 | Johnson, Wyandotte |
| 19 | State Highway 7 | 32 | 32 | 9 | Johnson, Crawford, Linn |
| 20 | State Highway 15 | 30 | 37 | 7 | Sedgwick, Marion, Clay |
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 Kansas as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/kansas/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in Kansas
Sedgwick County had the most fatal crashes in Kansas from 2015 to 2024: 565, with 611 deaths. Sedgwick, Johnson and Wyandotte counties together held 28% of fatal crashes in Kansas from 2015 to 2024; the 20 listed held 60%. 105 counties in Kansas 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, Marion County has the highest rate in Kansas: 38.8 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 13.8 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 | Sedgwick County | 57 | 565 | 611 | 11.4 |
| 2 | Johnson County | 22 | 249 | 261 | 3.6 |
| 3 | Wyandotte County | 20 | 220 | 245 | 12.4 |
| 4 | Shawnee County | 23 | 177 | 197 | 13.5 |
| 5 | Leavenworth County | 7 | 102 | 111 | Not enough data |
| 6 | Butler County | 6 | 84 | 95 | Not enough data |
| 7 | Douglas County | 6 | 76 | 86 | Not enough data |
| 8 | Reno County | 5 | 76 | 82 | Not enough data |
| 9 | Montgomery County | 9 | 71 | 76 | 32.8 |
| 10 | Saline County | 6 | 67 | 72 | Not enough data |
| 11 | Franklin County | 4 | 57 | 65 | Not enough data |
| 12 | Harvey County | 5 | 52 | 57 | Not enough data |
| 13 | Crawford County | 6 | 52 | 54 | Not enough data |
| 14 | Sumner County | 4 | 51 | 60 | Not enough data |
| 15 | Cowley County | 7 | 50 | 54 | Not enough data |
| 16 | McPherson County | 4 | 49 | 56 | Not enough data |
| 17 | Miami County | 4 | 47 | 52 | Not enough data |
| 18 | Riley County | 4 | 47 | 50 | Not enough data |
| 19 | Jefferson County | 3 | 43 | 52 | Not enough data |
| 20 | Lyon County | 3 | 43 | 49 | 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/kansas/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in Kansas
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 138 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 pm to 3 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 | 3.8 percent, 134 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 38 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 54 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 97 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 113 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 82 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.2 percent, 41 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 64 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 81 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 110 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 108 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 75 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.8 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 55 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 71 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 111 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 113 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 68 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.8 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 75 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 67 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 122 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 104 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 89 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 50 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 64 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 64 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 106 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 87 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.2 percent, 44 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 64 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 83 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 127 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 130 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 115 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.8 percent, 98 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 68 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 121 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 116 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 138 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.0%
- Feb6.7%
- Mar8.1%
- Apr7.3%
- May8.2%
- Jun9.3%
- Jul9.2%
- Aug8.4%
- Sep9.8%
- Oct9.2%
- Nov8.7%
- Dec8.2%
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 Kansas: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
63% of fatal crashes in Kansas from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, above the US share of 43%; 25% happened at or near an intersection, about the US share; 26% in the dark on unlit roads, below the US share of 28%; most, 55%, in daylight. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Kansas | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 63% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 25% | 25% | about the same as the US share |
| In daylight | 55% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 15% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 26% | 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 Kansas roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 71% of the 339 people killed on Kansas roads in 2024; motorcyclists 17% (56), pedestrians 10% (34), cyclists 2.1% (7).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 240 | 71% |
| Motorcyclists | 56 | 17% |
| Pedestrians | 34 | 10% |
| Cyclists | 7 | 2.1% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 2 | 0.6% |
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 Kansas: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 23% of fatal crashes in Kansas from 2015 to 2024, below the US share of 26%; speeding in 24%, below the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 3.7%, below the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 23%, above the US share of 8.7%; 51% 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 (2,608 in Kansas).
| Kansas | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 23% | 26% | below the US share |
| Speeding | 24% | 27% | below the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 23% | 8.7% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 51% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.7% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 16% | below 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 43%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 29%, a rollover in 13%, a pedestrian in 8.3%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 1,562 | 43% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 1,035 | 29% |
| Rollover | 476 | 13% |
| Pedestrian | 301 | 8.3% |
| Other | 171 | 4.7% |
| Cyclist | 53 | 1.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 29 | 0.8% |
| Not reported | 4 | 0.1% |
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 Kansas
Cars were 34% of the 5,384 vehicles in fatal crashes in Kansas from 2015 to 2024, pickups 21%, SUVs 17%, truck-tractors 9.9%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 1,817 | 34% |
| Pickups | 1,126 | 21% |
| SUVs | 939 | 17% |
| Truck-tractors | 531 | 9.9% |
| Motorcycles | 524 | 9.7% |
| Other trucks | 231 | 4.3% |
| Vans | 207 | 3.8% |
| Buses | 9 | 0.2% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in Kansas per resident and per mile driven
| Kansas | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 11.4 | 11.5 | about the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 13.8 | 11.8 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 1.07 | 1.19 | below the US rate |
Population 2,970,606 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 31,670 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 Kansas
- How many people died in car accidents in Kansas in 2024?
- 339 people died in 314 fatal crashes on Kansas roads in 2024, 12.4% fewer than in 2023. That is 11.4 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 Kansas?
- I-70 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Kansas from 2015 to 2024: 178, with 213 deaths. I-35 was second with 116.
- Which county in Kansas has the most fatal crashes?
- Sedgwick County, with 565 fatal crashes and 611 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 57 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in Kansas happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 138 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Kansas involved a drinking driver?
- 817 of 3,631 fatal crashes in Kansas from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 23%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for Kansas
Every county in Kansas 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.
- Sedgwick County 565
- Johnson County 249
- Wyandotte County 220
- Shawnee County 177
- Leavenworth County 102
- Butler County 84
- Reno County 76
- Douglas County 76
- Montgomery County 71
- Saline County 67
- Franklin County 57
- Crawford County 52
- Harvey County 52
- Sumner County 51
- Cowley County 50
- McPherson County 49
- Riley County 47
- Miami County 47
- Finney County 43
- Jefferson County 43
- Lyon County 43
- Ford County 41
- Cherokee County 40
- Dickinson County 37
- Geary County 37
- Brown County 35
- Pottawatomie County 34
- Labette County 34
- Barton County 33
- Seward County 32
- Marion County 32
- Jackson County 30
Road pages for Kansas
Every numbered road in Kansas with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Kansas 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.