Fatal crashes in Sedgwick County, Kansas
In 2024, 61 people died in 57 fatal crashes in Sedgwick County, Kansas, 13.0% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 565 fatal crashes and 611 deaths, the most of any county in Kansas.
11.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.4 across Kansas in 2024; 11.7 against 13.8 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 536,081, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Kansas.
Deaths in Sedgwick County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 57 | 61 |
| 2023 | 51 | 54 |
| 2022 | 65 | 71 |
| 2021 | 63 | 67 |
| 2020 | 57 | 65 |
| 2019 | 52 | 57 |
| 2018 | 65 | 72 |
| 2017 | 56 | 57 |
| 2016 | 55 | 57 |
| 2015 | 44 | 50 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Sedgwick County
I-135 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Sedgwick County from 2015 to 2024: 30, with 31 deaths. The 9 roads listed held 24% of all fatal crashes in Sedgwick County from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 2 US routes, 4 state highways. 24% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 76% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-135 | 30 | 31 | 10 | |
| 2 | US 54 | 26 | 27 | 9 | |
| 3 | I-235 | 21 | 22 | 7 | no page |
| 4 | I-35 | 14 | 15 | 4 | |
| 5 | State Highway 254 | 11 | 14 | 0 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 96 | 9 | 12 | 3 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 15 | 9 | 9 | 2 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 42 | 8 | 10 | 2 | no page |
| 9 | US 81 | 5 | 5 | 4 | no page |
Wichita had 65% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 369 of 565.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Wichita 369, Derby 18, Park City 10, Goddard 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 Sedgwick County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Friday), with 29 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.8 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.8 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 22 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.2 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 26 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.3%
- Feb5.3%
- Mar10.3%
- Apr6.7%
- May8.1%
- Jun8.0%
- Jul8.3%
- Aug9.2%
- Sep9.4%
- Oct10.4%
- Nov8.8%
- Dec8.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Sedgwick 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 29%, a pedestrian in 15%, a rollover in 4.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 253 | 45% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 162 | 29% |
| Pedestrian | 87 | 15% |
| Rollover | 23 | 4.1% |
| Other | 18 | 3.2% |
| Cyclist | 17 | 3.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 5 | 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
How fatal crashes in Sedgwick County compare with Kansas
The largest difference from Kansas: from 2015 to 2024, 17% of fatal crashes in Sedgwick County were on rural roads, against 63% across Kansas. Also above the Kansas share: intersections, speeding, hit-and-runs, motorcycles and pedestrians. Below it: unlit roads at night, distracted drivers and unbelted occupants. 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 565 crashes.
| Sedgwick | Kansas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 17% | 63% | below the Kansas share |
| At or near an intersection | 34% | 25% | above the Kansas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 14% | 26% | below the Kansas share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 23% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Speeding | 29% | 24% | above the Kansas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 18% | 23% | below the Kansas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 44% | 51% | below the Kansas share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.1% | 3.7% | above the Kansas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 22% | 14% | above the Kansas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 15% | 8.3% | above 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 Sedgwick County, Kansas
- How many people died in car accidents in Sedgwick County in 2024?
- 61 people died in 57 fatal crashes in Sedgwick County, Kansas, in 2024, 13.0% more than in 2023. That is 11.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.4 across Kansas. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Sedgwick County?
- I-135 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Sedgwick County from 2015 to 2024: 30, with 31 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Sedgwick County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Friday), with 29 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Sedgwick County involved a drinking driver?
- 108 of 565 fatal crashes in Sedgwick County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 19%, against 23% across Kansas.
Other counties in Kansas with a page
- Johnson County
- Wyandotte County
- Shawnee County
- Leavenworth County
- Butler County
- Reno County
- Douglas County
- Montgomery County
- Saline County
- Franklin County
- Crawford County
- Harvey County
All fatal crashes in Kansas, with every county ranked.
Where the Sedgwick County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Sedgwick County (county code 173). 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/sedgwick-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”