US 61 in Louisiana: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 240 fatal crashes on US 61 in Louisiana killed 267 people, the 3rd most of 615 numbered roads in Louisiana. In 2024 there were 17 fatal crashes and 20 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 9 counties of Louisiana. All fatal crashes in Louisiana.
Deaths on US 61 in Louisiana by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17 | 20 |
| 2023 | 25 | 26 |
| 2022 | 26 | 31 |
| 2021 | 21 | 23 |
| 2020 | 31 | 32 |
| 2019 | 25 | 29 |
| 2018 | 25 | 30 |
| 2017 | 22 | 25 |
| 2016 | 24 | 27 |
| 2015 | 24 | 24 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 61 in Louisiana: the counties with the most fatal crashes
East Baton Rouge Parish had the most fatal crashes on US 61 from 2015 to 2024: 114, with 123 deaths. East Baton Rouge Parish, Ascension Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish together held 73% of fatal crashes on US 61 in Louisiana from 2015 to 2024; the 8 listed held 98%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Baton Rouge Parish | 7 | 114 | 123 |
| 2 | Ascension Parish | 3 | 30 | 33 |
| 3 | St. John the Baptist Parish | 3 | 30 | 30 |
| 4 | Jefferson Parish | 0 | 28 | 32 |
| 5 | West Feliciana Parish | 1 | 10 | 12 |
| 6 | St. Charles Parish | 2 | 9 | 12 |
| 7 | St. James Parish | 0 | 8 | 11 |
| 8 | Orleans Parish | 1 | 7 | 9 |
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 61 in Louisiana
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 17 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 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 | 4.3 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.3 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 7.2 percent, 17 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.1%
- Feb9.6%
- Mar8.8%
- Apr7.5%
- May6.7%
- Jun7.1%
- Jul6.7%
- Aug7.1%
- Sep5.8%
- Oct11.2%
- Nov9.2%
- Dec13.3%
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 61 in Louisiana first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 44%; a pedestrian in 30%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 13%, a cyclist in 4.6%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 106 | 44% |
| Pedestrian | 73 | 30% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 32 | 13% |
| Cyclist | 11 | 4.6% |
| Other | 9 | 3.8% |
| Rollover | 8 | 3.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.4% |
| 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 61 in Louisiana compare with the state
The largest difference from Louisiana: from 2015 to 2024, 19% of fatal crashes on US 61 in Louisiana were on rural roads, against 45% across Louisiana. Also above the Louisiana share: intersections, hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Below it: unlit roads at night. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Louisiana. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 240 crashes.
| US 61 | Louisiana | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 19% | 45% | below the Louisiana share |
| At or near an intersection | 37% | 20% | above the Louisiana share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 25% | 35% | below the Louisiana share |
| A drinking driver | 25% | 31% | about the same as the Louisiana share |
| Speeding | 19% | 22% | about the same as the Louisiana share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 21% | 21% | about the same as the Louisiana share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 53% | 57% | about the same as the Louisiana share |
| Hit-and-run | 14% | 7.3% | above the Louisiana share |
| A motorcycle involved | 8.3% | 12% | about the same as the Louisiana share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 29% | 18% | above the Louisiana 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 61 in Louisiana
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 61 in Louisiana?
- 240 fatal crashes killed 267 people on US 61 in Louisiana from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 17 fatal crashes and 20 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 61 in Louisiana do the most fatal crashes happen?
- East Baton Rouge Parish had the most fatal crashes on US 61 from 2015 to 2024: 114, with 123 deaths. Ascension Parish was second with 30.
- When do fatal crashes on US 61 in Louisiana happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 17 fatal crashes.
Other roads in Louisiana with a page
- I-10
- I-12
- I-20
- I-49
- I-55
- State Highway 1
- State Highway 10
- State Highway 16
- State Highway 182
- State Highway 22
- State Highway 30
- State Highway 308
All fatal crashes in Louisiana, with every road ranked.
Where the US 61 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 61 in Louisiana (filed under 15 spellings, such as "US- 61", "US-61", "US-61 3300 FLORIDA BLVD", "US-61 5900 AIRLINE HWY"). 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.