Fatal Crash Data

State Highway 5 in Maryland: fatal crashes

From 2015 to 2024, 108 fatal crashes on State Highway 5 in Maryland killed 112 people, the 5th most of 357 numbered roads in Maryland. In 2024 there were 12 fatal crashes and 12 deaths on the road.

A state highway running through 4 counties of Maryland. All fatal crashes in Maryland.

Deaths on State Highway 5 in Maryland by year

10201620182020202220242021: 152024: 12
YearFatal crashesDeaths
20241212
20231313
20221213
20211415
20201313
201988
20181111
201778
201699
2015910

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

Where on State Highway 5 in Maryland: the counties with the most fatal crashes

Prince George's County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 5 from 2015 to 2024: 58, with 59 deaths. Prince George's, St. Mary's and Charles counties together held 99% of fatal crashes on State Highway 5 in Maryland from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.

One fatal crash, 2015 to 2024Darker where crashes clusterNot on the map: 1 crash sits far from the rest of the road, most likely another road filed under State Highway 5.
County20242015 to 2024Deaths
1Prince George's County55859
2St. Mary's County32628
3Charles County42324

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 State Highway 5 in Maryland

108 fatal crashes on State Highway 5 in Maryland 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 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is March.

Share of fatal crashes on State Highway 5 in Maryland by weekday and time of day, 2015 to 2024, in percent
Midnight to 44 to 8 am8 to noonNoon to 44 to 8 pm8 to midnight
Sun5.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes
Mon0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes
Tue2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes
Wed0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes5.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes
Thu2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes6.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes
Fri2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes4.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes
Sat4.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash3.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash5.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes

By hour

By month

  • Jan8.3%
  • Feb7.4%
  • Mar13.9%
  • Apr8.3%
  • May6.5%
  • Jun6.5%
  • Jul6.5%
  • Aug7.4%
  • Sep8.3%
  • Oct11.1%
  • Nov5.6%
  • Dec10.2%

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

What fatal crashes on State Highway 5 in Maryland first hit

The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 47%; a pedestrian in 23%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 21%, a parked vehicle in 2.8%.

First harmful eventFatal crashesShare
Collision with another vehicle5147%
Pedestrian2523%
Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch)2321%
Other43.7%
Parked vehicle32.8%
Cyclist10.9%
Rollover10.9%
Not reported00.0%

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

How fatal crashes on State Highway 5 in Maryland compare with the state

The largest difference from Maryland: from 2015 to 2024, 28% of occupants killed on State Highway 5 in Maryland were unbelted, against 43% across Maryland. Also above the Maryland share: unlit roads at night. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Maryland. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 108 crashes.

State Highway 5Maryland
On rural stretches12%19%about the same as the Maryland share
At or near an intersection30%29%about the same as the Maryland share
In the dark, road unlit33%24%above the Maryland share
A drinking driver32%28%about the same as the Maryland share
Speeding32%26%about the same as the Maryland share
A distracted driver (as recorded)15%9.6%about the same as the Maryland share
Occupants killed unbelted28%43%below the Maryland share
Hit-and-run8.3%7.8%about the same as the Maryland share
A motorcycle involved16%16%about the same as the Maryland share
Pedestrians among the dead25%23%about the same as the Maryland 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 State Highway 5 in Maryland

How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 5 in Maryland?
108 fatal crashes killed 112 people on State Highway 5 in Maryland from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 12 fatal crashes and 12 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
Where on State Highway 5 in Maryland do the most fatal crashes happen?
Prince George's County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 5 from 2015 to 2024: 58, with 59 deaths. St. Mary's County was second with 26.

Other roads in Maryland with a page

All fatal crashes in Maryland, with every road ranked.

Where the State Highway 5 numbers come from

Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as State Highway 5 in Maryland (filed under 8 spellings, such as "SR-5", "SR-5 ALLENTOWN RD", "SR-5 BRANCH AVE", "SR-5 LEONARDTOWN RD"). 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.