US 56 in Kansas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 69 fatal crashes on US 56 in Kansas killed 83 people, the 6th most of 113 numbered roads in Kansas. In 2024 there were 4 fatal crashes and 5 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 16 counties of Kansas. All fatal crashes in Kansas.
Deaths on US 56 in Kansas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 5 |
| 2023 | 11 | 12 |
| 2022 | 5 | 7 |
| 2021 | 6 | 9 |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 |
| 2019 | 7 | 8 |
| 2018 | 4 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 | 7 |
| 2016 | 8 | 9 |
| 2015 | 9 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 56 in Kansas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
McPherson County had the most fatal crashes on US 56 from 2015 to 2024: 10, with 15 deaths. McPherson, Marion and Gray counties together held 38% of fatal crashes on US 56 in Kansas from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 52%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McPherson County | 0 | 10 | 15 |
| 2 | Marion County | 1 | 9 | 16 |
| 3 | Gray County | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| 4 | Barton County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Douglas County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 56 in Kansas
69 fatal crashes on US 56 in 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 7 am to 8 am; the worst month is November.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 11.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.8%
- Feb2.9%
- Mar13.0%
- Apr7.2%
- May10.1%
- Jun7.2%
- Jul1.4%
- Aug2.9%
- Sep10.1%
- Oct8.7%
- Nov15.9%
- Dec14.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 56 in Kansas first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 70%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 16%, a rollover in 10%, a pedestrian in 2.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 48 | 70% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 11 | 16% |
| Rollover | 7 | 10% |
| Pedestrian | 2 | 2.9% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| Other | 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 on US 56 in Kansas compare with the state
The largest difference from Kansas: from 2015 to 2024, 84% of fatal crashes on US 56 in Kansas were on rural roads, against 63% across Kansas. Also above the Kansas share: distracted drivers. Below it: 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 69 crashes.
| US 56 | Kansas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 84% | 63% | above the Kansas share |
| At or near an intersection | 29% | 25% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 19% | 26% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A drinking driver | 23% | 23% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Speeding | 20% | 24% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 35% | 23% | above the Kansas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 37% | 51% | below the Kansas share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.9% | 3.7% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 5.8% | 14% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 2.4% | 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 on US 56 in Kansas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 56 in Kansas?
- 69 fatal crashes killed 83 people on US 56 in Kansas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 4 fatal crashes and 5 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 56 in Kansas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- McPherson County had the most fatal crashes on US 56 from 2015 to 2024: 10, with 15 deaths. Marion County was second with 9.
Other roads in Kansas with a page
All fatal crashes in Kansas, with every road ranked.
Where the US 56 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 56 in Kansas (filed under 6 spellings, such as "US-56", "US-56 HWY", "US-56 RD", "US-56 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.