Fatal crashes in Douglas County, Kansas
In 2024, 8 people died in 6 fatal crashes in Douglas County, Kansas, up from 7 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 76 fatal crashes and 86 deaths, the 7th most of 105 counties in Kansas.
Deaths in Douglas County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 8 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 7 | 7 |
| 2021 | 6 | 6 |
| 2020 | 12 | 18 |
| 2019 | 10 | 12 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 |
| 2017 | 10 | 10 |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 |
| 2015 | 7 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Numbered roads with fatal crashes in Douglas County
The 4 roads listed held 33% of all fatal crashes in Douglas County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 2 US routes, 1 state highway. 42% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 58% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
Lawrence had 30% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 23 of 76.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Lawrence 23. 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 Douglas County
73 fatal crashes in Douglas County, Kansas 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 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is April.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 4.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan10.5%
- Feb3.9%
- Mar6.6%
- Apr13.2%
- May7.9%
- Jun5.3%
- Jul10.5%
- Aug7.9%
- Sep9.2%
- Oct10.5%
- Nov9.2%
- Dec5.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Douglas County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 45%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 33%, a rollover in 11%, a pedestrian in 9.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 34 | 45% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 25 | 33% |
| Rollover | 8 | 11% |
| Pedestrian | 7 | 9.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.3% |
| Other | 1 | 1.3% |
| Cyclist | 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 Douglas County compare with Kansas
The largest difference from Kansas: from 2015 to 2024, 50% of fatal crashes in Douglas County were on rural roads, against 63% across Kansas. Also above the Kansas share: drinking drivers. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Kansas. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 76 crashes.
| Douglas | Kansas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 50% | 63% | below the Kansas share |
| At or near an intersection | 17% | 25% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 34% | 26% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A drinking driver | 34% | 23% | above the Kansas share |
| Speeding | 25% | 24% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 20% | 23% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 50% | 51% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.3% | 3.7% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 20% | 14% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 8.1% | 8.3% | about the same as the Kansas 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 Douglas County, Kansas
- How many people died in car accidents in Douglas County in 2024?
- 8 people died in 6 fatal crashes in Douglas County, Kansas, in 2024, up from 7 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- How many fatal crashes in Douglas County involved a drinking driver?
- 26 of 76 fatal crashes in Douglas County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 34%, against 23% across Kansas.
Other counties in Kansas with a page
- Sedgwick County
- Johnson County
- Wyandotte County
- Shawnee County
- Leavenworth County
- Butler County
- Reno County
- Montgomery County
- Saline County
- Franklin County
- Crawford County
- Harvey County
All fatal crashes in Kansas, with every county ranked.
Where the Douglas County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Douglas County (county code 45). 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/kansas/douglas-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”