Fatal crashes in Kentucky
In 2024, 707 people died in 663 fatal crashes on Kentucky roads, 13.1% fewer than in 2023. That is about 2 deaths a day, and 1.8% of all road deaths in the United States.
Kentucky ranks 21st of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and 13th by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in Kentucky since 1975
Road deaths in Kentucky peaked in 2005 at 985; 2024's 707 is 28% below that. The lowest year was 2013 with 638. 2024 is 14% below 2000 and 18% below 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 707 | 663 | -13.1% |
| 2023 | 814 | 767 | +9.4% |
| 2022 | 744 | 693 | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 806 | 734 | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 780 | 709 | +6.6% |
| 2019 | 732 | 667 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 724 | 664 | -7.4% |
| 2017 | 782 | 721 | -6.2% |
| 2016 | 834 | 763 | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 761 | 694 | +13.2% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 672 | 612 | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 638 | 590 | -14.5% |
| 2012 | 746 | 694 | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 720 | 669 | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 760 | 694 | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 791 | 730 | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 825 | 751 | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 864 | 803 | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 913 | 837 | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 985 | 885 | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 964 | 854 | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 928 | 845 | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 915 | 810 | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 845 | 762 | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 820 | 721 | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 814 | 724 | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 858 | 766 | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 857 | 774 | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 842 | 734 | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 849 | 732 | +9.1% |
| 1994 | 778 | 693 | -10.7% |
| 1993 | 871 | 761 | +6.9% |
| 1992 | 815 | 718 | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 826 | 722 | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 849 | 753 | +10.0% |
| 1989 | 772 | 686 | -7.9% |
| 1988 | 838 | 717 | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 844 | 768 | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 805 | 723 | +13.1% |
| 1985 | 712 | 624 | -5.6% |
| 1984 | 754 | 674 | -3.1% |
| 1983 | 778 | 690 | -5.4% |
| 1982 | 822 | 726 | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 812 | 720 | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 820 | 746 | -8.5% |
| 1979 | 896 | 795 | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 878 | 772 | -6.6% |
| 1977 | 940 | 796 | +10.1% |
| 1976 | 854 | 748 | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 863 | 751 | No data |
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads and most dangerous highways in Kentucky
US 60 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024: 250, with 268 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 32% of all fatal crashes in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 13 US routes, 3 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (59 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in Kentucky, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 60 | 250 | 268 | 76 | Fayette, Jefferson, McCracken |
| 2 | US 27 | 167 | 193 | 53 | Pulaski, Fayette, Jessamine |
| 3 | US 68 | 163 | 180 | 54 | Trigg, Warren, Marshall |
| 4 | I-65 | 161 | 174 | 47 | Jefferson, Bullitt, Warren |
| 5 | I-75 | 156 | 183 | 47 | Fayette, Madison, Rockcastle |
| 6 | I-64 | 145 | 163 | 33 | Jefferson, Shelby, Carter |
| 7 | US 25 | 139 | 144 | 40 | Fayette, Laurel, Madison |
| 8 | US 31W | 129 | 141 | 38 | Jefferson, Hardin, Warren |
| 9 | US 62 | 114 | 121 | 37 | Hardin, McCracken, Scott |
| 10 | US 31 | 105 | 118 | 45 | Jefferson, Hardin, Barren |
| 11 | US 23 | 93 | 106 | 28 | Floyd, Pike, Lawrence |
| 12 | US 127 | 83 | 90 | 27 | Boyle, Mercer, Clinton |
| 13 | State Highway 61 | 83 | 87 | 32 | Jefferson, Bullitt, Green |
| 14 | US 421 | 79 | 86 | 15 | Jackson, Harlan, Clay |
| 15 | US 31E | 75 | 81 | 21 | Jefferson, Barren, Allen |
| 16 | State Highway 15 | 67 | 77 | 9 | Breathitt, Perry, Wolfe |
| 17 | US 460 | 66 | 71 | 20 | Pike, Montgomery, Bourbon |
| 18 | State Highway 80 | 63 | 69 | 13 | Pulaski, Laurel, Floyd |
| 19 | I-71 | 62 | 68 | 15 | Oldham, Jefferson, Carroll |
| 20 | US 150 | 60 | 71 | 15 | Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every numbered road in Kentucky as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/kentucky/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in Kentucky
Jefferson County had the most fatal crashes in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024: 1,039, with 1,088 deaths. Jefferson, Fayette and Hardin counties together held 22% of fatal crashes in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024; the 20 listed held 48%. 120 counties in Kentucky recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed, with deaths per 100,000 residents where the county had 10 or more deaths in 2024.
Per resident, Breathitt County has the highest rate in Kentucky: 37.3 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 17.1 for the state as a whole. Counties with fewer than 10,000 residents are hatched rather than shaded: a few crashes on a highway through a small county make a rate that says more about its population than its roads.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | Deaths per 100,000100K, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County | 109 | 1,039 | 1,088 | 14.2 |
| 2 | Fayette County | 34 | 340 | 369 | 11.2 |
| 3 | Hardin County | 22 | 182 | 199 | 22.2 |
| 4 | Warren County | 20 | 161 | 178 | 14.2 |
| 5 | Pike County | 18 | 151 | 162 | 34.3 |
| 6 | Pulaski County | 18 | 127 | 136 | 26.9 |
| 7 | Laurel County | 17 | 122 | 132 | 28.4 |
| 8 | Daviess County | 8 | 114 | 121 | Not enough data |
| 9 | Bullitt County | 9 | 112 | 116 | 11.7 |
| 10 | McCracken County | 14 | 110 | 127 | 23.7 |
| 11 | Christian County | 11 | 109 | 120 | 15.5 |
| 12 | Boone County | 6 | 106 | 119 | Not enough data |
| 13 | Madison County | 9 | 105 | 109 | Not enough data |
| 14 | Nelson County | 10 | 100 | 112 | 20.5 |
| 15 | Kenton County | 6 | 94 | 108 | Not enough data |
| 16 | Floyd County | 8 | 94 | 104 | Not enough data |
| 17 | Barren County | 7 | 89 | 95 | Not enough data |
| 18 | Grayson County | 3 | 82 | 86 | Not enough data |
| 19 | Whitley County | 11 | 82 | 85 | 32.2 |
| 20 | Marshall County | 8 | 80 | 84 | Not enough data |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/kentucky/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in Kentucky
The heaviest slot is Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 263 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.0 percent, 212 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 112 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 100 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 194 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 231 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 170 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.0 percent, 69 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 132 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 146 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 233 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 227 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 166 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 75 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 129 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 146 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 201 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 201 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 165 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.1 percent, 78 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 132 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 135 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 222 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 227 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 153 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 90 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 133 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 159 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 230 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 236 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 167 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.2 percent, 87 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 131 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 133 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 252 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 263 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 228 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.1 percent, 147 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 113 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 138 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 216 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 242 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 250 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.7%
- Feb6.4%
- Mar7.5%
- Apr7.5%
- May8.7%
- Jun8.7%
- Jul9.5%
- Aug10.2%
- Sep9.1%
- Oct9.9%
- Nov8.2%
- Dec7.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Kentucky: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
66% of fatal crashes in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, above the US share of 43%; 20% happened at or near an intersection, below the US share of 25%; 29% in the dark on unlit roads, above the US share of 28%; most, 55%, in daylight. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Kentucky | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 66% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 20% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 55% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 10% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 28% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Kentucky roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 68% of the 707 people killed on Kentucky roads in 2024; motorcyclists 17% (118), pedestrians 13% (95), cyclists 1.6% (11).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 478 | 68% |
| Motorcyclists | 118 | 17% |
| Pedestrians | 95 | 13% |
| Cyclists | 11 | 1.6% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 5 | 0.7% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Kentucky: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 25% of fatal crashes in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024, about the US share; speeding in 16%, below the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 4.3%, below the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 19%, above the US share of 8.7%; 52% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above the US share of 49%.
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (5,278 in Kentucky).
| Kentucky | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 25% | 26% | about the same as the US share |
| Speeding | 16% | 27% | below the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 19% | 8.7% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 52% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.3% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 16% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 41%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 34%, a pedestrian in 11%, a rollover in 6.7%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 2,874 | 41% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 2,433 | 34% |
| Pedestrian | 791 | 11% |
| Rollover | 471 | 6.7% |
| Other | 336 | 4.7% |
| Cyclist | 92 | 1.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 77 | 1.1% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Kentucky
Cars were 39% of the 10,602 vehicles in fatal crashes in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024, pickups 20%, SUVs 18%, motorcycles 9.6%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 4,113 | 39% |
| Pickups | 2,105 | 20% |
| SUVs | 1,875 | 18% |
| Motorcycles | 1,017 | 9.6% |
| Truck-tractors | 596 | 5.6% |
| Other trucks | 439 | 4.1% |
| Vans | 419 | 4.0% |
| Buses | 38 | 0.4% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in Kentucky per resident and per mile driven
| Kentucky | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 15.4 | 11.5 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 17.1 | 11.8 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 1.44 | 1.19 | above the US rate |
Population 4,588,372 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 49,168 million vehicle-miles (FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, table VM-2). The only figures on this page not counted from FARS.
Questions about fatal crashes in Kentucky
- How many people died in car accidents in Kentucky in 2024?
- 707 people died in 663 fatal crashes on Kentucky roads in 2024, 13.1% fewer than in 2023. That is 15.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.5 across the United States. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Kentucky?
- US 60 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024: 250, with 268 deaths. US 27 was second with 167.
- Which county in Kentucky has the most fatal crashes?
- Jefferson County, with 1,039 fatal crashes and 1,088 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 109 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in Kentucky happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 263 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Kentucky involved a drinking driver?
- 1,789 of 7,075 fatal crashes in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 25%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for Kentucky
Every county in Kentucky with 30 or more fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, roads, hour and weekday, and deaths per 100,000 residents.
- Jefferson County 1,039
- Fayette County 340
- Hardin County 182
- Warren County 161
- Pike County 151
- Pulaski County 127
- Laurel County 122
- Daviess County 114
- Bullitt County 112
- McCracken County 110
- Christian County 109
- Boone County 106
- Madison County 105
- Nelson County 100
- Floyd County 94
- Kenton County 94
- Barren County 89
- Grayson County 82
- Whitley County 82
- Marshall County 80
- Scott County 78
- Campbell County 77
- Perry County 76
- Henderson County 74
- Hopkins County 74
- Meade County 71
- Graves County 68
- Clark County 64
- Muhlenberg County 63
- Shelby County 62
- Montgomery County 60
- Jessamine County 57
- Oldham County 56
- Calloway County 55
- Lincoln County 55
- Ohio County 55
- Bourbon County 52
- Rockcastle County 52
- Woodford County 52
- Knox County 51
- Carter County 50
- Hart County 50
- Allen County 49
- Breckinridge County 49
- Clay County 49
- Harlan County 49
- Taylor County 49
- Logan County 48
- Bell County 46
- Breathitt County 45
- Grant County 44
- Marion County 44
- Franklin County 43
- Lewis County 43
- Letcher County 42
- McCreary County 42
- Simpson County 42
- Wayne County 41
- Butler County 40
- Henry County 39
- Mercer County 39
- Rowan County 39
- Todd County 39
- Trigg County 39
- Boyle County 38
- Adair County 37
- Boyd County 36
- Powell County 36
- Wolfe County 36
- Larue County 35
- Jackson County 34
- Lawrence County 34
- Caldwell County 32
- Johnson County 32
- Magoffin County 32
- Russell County 32
- Carroll County 31
- Gallatin County 31
- Green County 31
- Greenup County 31
- Mason County 31
- Washington County 31
- Ballard County 30
Road pages for Kentucky
Every numbered road in Kentucky with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Kentucky numbers come from
Every figure on this page except the rates is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I-35", "I 35" and "I-35/PURPLE HEART TRL" are the same road); frontage roads and ramps ("I35 FRONTAGE") are left out of road counts. Totals from the state highway department and news reports can differ by a few: they count from the state's own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked and revised once a year. Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". Rates per resident and per mile use Census Bureau population estimates and FHWA vehicle-miles, the only figures not counted from FARS. The full method.