Fatal crashes in Franklin County, Kansas
In 2024, 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Franklin County, Kansas, down from 5 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 57 fatal crashes and 65 deaths, the 11th most of 105 counties in Kansas.
Deaths in Franklin County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 | 5 |
| 2020 | 6 | 7 |
| 2019 | 8 | 11 |
| 2018 | 5 | 7 |
| 2017 | 7 | 7 |
| 2016 | 9 | 10 |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Franklin County
I-35 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024: 17, with 21 deaths. The 2 roads listed held 47% of all fatal crashes in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 state highway. 56% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 44% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-35 | 17 | 21 | 4 | |
| 2 | State Highway 68 | 10 | 13 | 1 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Ottawa 5. 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 Franklin County
56 fatal crashes in Franklin 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 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is March.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 7.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 8.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.0%
- Feb7.0%
- Mar15.8%
- Apr10.5%
- May8.8%
- Jun12.3%
- Jul1.8%
- Aug8.8%
- Sep5.3%
- Oct7.0%
- Nov12.3%
- Dec3.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Franklin County first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 35%; a collision with another vehicle in 32%, a rollover in 18%, a pedestrian in 7.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 20 | 35% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 18 | 32% |
| Rollover | 10 | 18% |
| Other | 5 | 8.8% |
| Pedestrian | 4 | 7.0% |
| Cyclist | 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 in Franklin County compare with Kansas
The largest difference from Kansas: from 2015 to 2024, 95% of fatal crashes in Franklin County were on rural roads, against 63% across Kansas. 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 57 crashes.
| Franklin | Kansas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 95% | 63% | above the Kansas share |
| At or near an intersection | 16% | 25% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 37% | 26% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A drinking driver | 30% | 23% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Speeding | 19% | 24% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 23% | 23% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 46% | 51% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.3% | 3.7% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 14% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 7.7% | 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 Franklin County, Kansas
- How many people died in car accidents in Franklin County in 2024?
- 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Franklin County, Kansas, in 2024, down from 5 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Franklin County?
- I-35 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024: 17, with 21 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Franklin County involved a drinking driver?
- 17 of 57 fatal crashes in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 30%, 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
- Douglas County
- Montgomery County
- Saline County
- Crawford County
- Harvey County
All fatal crashes in Kansas, with every county ranked.
Where the Franklin County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Franklin County (county code 59). 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/franklin-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”