Fatal crashes in Shawnee County, Kansas
In 2024, 24 people died in 23 fatal crashes in Shawnee County, Kansas, up from 12 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 177 fatal crashes and 197 deaths, the 4th most of 105 counties in Kansas.
13.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.4 across Kansas in 2024; 11.1 against 13.8 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 177,942, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Kansas.
Deaths in Shawnee County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23 | 24 |
| 2023 | 11 | 12 |
| 2022 | 16 | 21 |
| 2021 | 26 | 27 |
| 2020 | 20 | 21 |
| 2019 | 13 | 15 |
| 2018 | 16 | 18 |
| 2017 | 15 | 15 |
| 2016 | 26 | 32 |
| 2015 | 11 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Shawnee County
I-70 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Shawnee County from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 20 deaths. The 5 roads listed held 31% of all fatal crashes in Shawnee County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 3 US routes. 35% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 65% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
Topeka had 62% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 110 of 177.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Topeka 110. 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 Shawnee County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 12 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is December.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 6.4 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 6.4 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 6.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.8%
- Feb10.7%
- Mar7.9%
- Apr8.5%
- May7.3%
- Jun10.2%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug4.5%
- Sep9.6%
- Oct5.1%
- Nov9.0%
- Dec11.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Shawnee County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 42%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 29%, a pedestrian in 15%, a rollover in 7.3%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 74 | 42% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 52 | 29% |
| Pedestrian | 26 | 15% |
| Rollover | 13 | 7.3% |
| Other | 8 | 4.5% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 1.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.6% |
| 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 Shawnee County compare with Kansas
The largest difference from Kansas: from 2015 to 2024, 28% of fatal crashes in Shawnee County were on rural roads, against 63% across Kansas. Also above the Kansas share: pedestrians. Below it: 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 177 crashes.
| Shawnee | Kansas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 28% | 63% | below the Kansas share |
| At or near an intersection | 31% | 25% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 22% | 26% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A drinking driver | 21% | 23% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Speeding | 24% | 24% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 15% | 23% | below the Kansas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 44% | 51% | below the Kansas share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.2% | 3.7% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 19% | 14% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 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 Shawnee County, Kansas
- How many people died in car accidents in Shawnee County in 2024?
- 24 people died in 23 fatal crashes in Shawnee County, Kansas, in 2024, up from 12 in 2023. That is 13.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.4 across Kansas. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Shawnee County?
- I-70 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Shawnee County from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 20 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Shawnee County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 12 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Shawnee County involved a drinking driver?
- 37 of 177 fatal crashes in Shawnee County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 21%, against 23% across Kansas.
Other counties in Kansas with a page
- Sedgwick County
- Johnson County
- Wyandotte 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 Shawnee County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Shawnee County (county code 177). 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/shawnee-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”