US 421 in Kentucky: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 79 fatal crashes on US 421 in Kentucky killed 86 people, the 14th most of 1,010 numbered roads in Kentucky. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 7 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 11 counties of Kentucky. All fatal crashes in Kentucky.
Deaths on US 421 in Kentucky by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 7 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 |
| 2022 | 7 | 9 |
| 2021 | 11 | 12 |
| 2020 | 10 | 12 |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 |
| 2018 | 9 | 9 |
| 2017 | 8 | 9 |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 |
| 2015 | 8 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 421 in Kentucky: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Jackson County had the most fatal crashes on US 421 from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 20 deaths. Jackson, Clay and Harlan counties together held 53% of fatal crashes on US 421 in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024; the 7 listed held 85%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson County | 1 | 18 | 20 |
| 2 | Clay County | 0 | 12 | 14 |
| 3 | Harlan County | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| 4 | Fayette County | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| 5 | Trimble County | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| 6 | Henry County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 7 | Madison 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 421 in Kentucky
79 fatal crashes on US 421 in Kentucky 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 2 pm to 3 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 | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.8%
- Feb10.1%
- Mar6.3%
- Apr6.3%
- May11.4%
- Jun8.9%
- Jul5.1%
- Aug12.7%
- Sep12.7%
- Oct6.3%
- Nov8.9%
- Dec7.6%
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 421 in Kentucky first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 48%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 28%, a pedestrian in 10%, a rollover in 7.6%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 38 | 48% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 22 | 28% |
| Pedestrian | 8 | 10% |
| Rollover | 6 | 7.6% |
| Other | 3 | 3.8% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 2.5% |
| 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 on US 421 in Kentucky compare with the state
The largest difference from Kentucky: from 2015 to 2024, 87% of fatal crashes on US 421 in Kentucky were on rural roads, against 66% across Kentucky. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Kentucky. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 79 crashes.
| US 421 | Kentucky | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 87% | 66% | above the Kentucky share |
| At or near an intersection | 18% | 20% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 25% | 29% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 25% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| Speeding | 11% | 16% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 23% | 19% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 46% | 52% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.3% | 4.3% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| A motorcycle involved | 11% | 14% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 11% | about the same as the Kentucky 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 421 in Kentucky
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 421 in Kentucky?
- 79 fatal crashes killed 86 people on US 421 in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 7 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 421 in Kentucky do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Jackson County had the most fatal crashes on US 421 from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 20 deaths. Clay County was second with 12.
Other roads in Kentucky with a page
All fatal crashes in Kentucky, with every road ranked.
Where the US 421 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 421 in Kentucky (filed under 8 spellings, such as "US-421", "US-421 BATTLEFIELD MEMORIAL HW", "US-421 CASTLE HWY", "US-421 HIGHWAY 421 NORTH"). 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.