Fatal crashes in Massachusetts
In 2024, 363 people died in 349 fatal crashes on Massachusetts roads, 6.1% more than in 2023. That is about 1 death a day, and 0.9% of all road deaths in the United States.
Massachusetts ranks 32nd of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and 50th by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in Massachusetts since 1975
Road deaths in Massachusetts peaked in 1979 at 917; 2024's 363 is 60% below that. The lowest year was 2019 with 336. 2024 is 16% below 2000 and 58% below 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 363 | 349 | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 342 | 324 | -21.4% |
| 2022 | 435 | 413 | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 413 | 393 | +20.4% |
| 2020 | 343 | 327 | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 336 | 323 | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 355 | 338 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 347 | 333 | -10.3% |
| 2016 | 387 | 356 | +12.5% |
| 2015 | 344 | 327 | -2.8% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 354 | 336 | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 351 | 334 | -8.4% |
| 2012 | 383 | 365 | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 374 | 356 | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 347 | 330 | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 340 | 313 | -6.6% |
| 2008 | 364 | 338 | -16.1% |
| 2007 | 434 | 408 | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 429 | 403 | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 441 | 417 | -7.4% |
| 2004 | 476 | 447 | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 462 | 434 | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 459 | 433 | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 477 | 446 | +10.2% |
| 2000 | 433 | 410 | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 414 | 386 | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 406 | 377 | -7.9% |
| 1997 | 441 | 415 | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 417 | 392 | -6.1% |
| 1995 | 444 | 418 | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 440 | 405 | -7.4% |
| 1993 | 475 | 449 | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 485 | 460 | -12.1% |
| 1991 | 552 | 510 | -8.8% |
| 1990 | 605 | 546 | -13.1% |
| 1989 | 696 | 634 | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 725 | 673 | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 689 | 642 | -8.4% |
| 1986 | 752 | 680 | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 742 | 687 | +11.4% |
| 1984 | 666 | 608 | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 651 | 605 | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 659 | 615 | -11.7% |
| 1981 | 746 | 682 | -15.3% |
| 1980 | 881 | 813 | -3.9% |
| 1979 | 917 | 855 | +6.5% |
| 1978 | 861 | 791 | +15.7% |
| 1977 | 744 | 686 | -5.7% |
| 1976 | 789 | 699 | -8.7% |
| 1975 | 864 | 788 | 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 Massachusetts
I-495 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2024: 140, with 155 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 30% of all fatal crashes in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2024; 7 are interstates, 3 US routes, 10 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (40 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in Massachusetts, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-495 | 140 | 155 | 44 | Middlesex, Essex, Bristol |
| 2 | I-95 | 86 | 89 | 23 | Norfolk, Essex, Middlesex |
| 3 | I-90 | 75 | 79 | 22 | Worcester, Hampden, Suffolk |
| 4 | US 20 | 74 | 83 | 20 | Worcester, Hampden, Berkshire |
| 5 | State Highway 28 | 72 | 78 | 20 | Barnstable, Plymouth, Norfolk |
| 6 | I-93 | 72 | 74 | 21 | Middlesex, Suffolk, Essex |
| 7 | State Highway 24 | 58 | 59 | 23 | Bristol, Plymouth, Norfolk |
| 8 | I-195 | 51 | 57 | 12 | Bristol, Plymouth |
| 9 | US 6 | 48 | 52 | 13 | Bristol, Barnstable, Plymouth |
| 10 | State Highway 9 | 48 | 50 | 16 | Worcester, Hampshire, Berkshire |
| 11 | US 1 | 45 | 46 | 17 | Essex, Norfolk, Bristol |
| 12 | State Highway 140 | 44 | 48 | 16 | Bristol, Worcester, Norfolk |
| 13 | State Highway 2 | 40 | 43 | 10 | Worcester, Franklin, Middlesex |
| 14 | State Highway 3 | 35 | 35 | 18 | Plymouth, Norfolk, Middlesex |
| 15 | I-91 | 32 | 35 | 8 | Hampden, Franklin, Hampshire |
| 16 | State Highway 18 | 29 | 29 | 8 | Plymouth, Bristol, Norfolk |
| 17 | State Highway 2A | 29 | 29 | 8 | Middlesex, Worcester, Franklin |
| 18 | State Highway 1A | 28 | 31 | 5 | Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk |
| 19 | State Highway 110 | 27 | 27 | 6 | Essex, Middlesex, Worcester |
| 20 | I-290 | 24 | 25 | 8 | Worcester, Middlesex |
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 Massachusetts as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/massachusetts/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in Massachusetts
Middlesex County had the most fatal crashes in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2024: 499, with 513 deaths. Middlesex, Worcester and Bristol counties together held 40% of fatal crashes in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2024. 14 counties in Massachusetts recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 14 with the most are listed, with deaths per 100,000 residents where the county had 10 or more deaths in 2024.
Per resident, Franklin County has the highest rate in Massachusetts: 10.0 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 5.3 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 | Middlesex County | 54 | 499 | 513 | 3.3 |
| 2 | Worcester County | 46 | 497 | 533 | 5.6 |
| 3 | Bristol County | 33 | 403 | 429 | 5.9 |
| 4 | Hampden County | 35 | 390 | 418 | 7.5 |
| 5 | Norfolk County | 36 | 350 | 368 | 5.0 |
| 6 | Plymouth County | 39 | 349 | 370 | 7.4 |
| 7 | Essex County | 27 | 322 | 332 | 3.5 |
| 8 | Suffolk County | 31 | 256 | 271 | 4.2 |
| 9 | Barnstable County | 12 | 132 | 138 | 5.6 |
| 10 | Berkshire County | 13 | 119 | 122 | 10.1 |
| 11 | Hampshire County | 13 | 81 | 84 | 7.9 |
| 12 | Franklin County | 7 | 69 | 71 | Not enough data |
| 13 | Dukes County | 2 | 10 | 10 | Not enough data |
| 14 | Nantucket County | 1 | 6 | 6 | 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/massachusetts/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in Massachusetts
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 149 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 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 | 4.1 percent, 140 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 52 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 81 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 130 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 116 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.2 percent, 41 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 47 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 74 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 105 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 82 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 46 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 56 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 97 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 106 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 80 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 53 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 70 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 97 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 111 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 74 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 46 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 52 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 63 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 96 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 108 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 102 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.9 percent, 67 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 56 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 78 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 86 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 110 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 149 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.9 percent, 135 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 61 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 55 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 97 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 121 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 132 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.1%
- Feb6.7%
- Mar6.6%
- Apr8.0%
- May8.3%
- Jun9.0%
- Jul9.5%
- Aug9.8%
- Sep9.0%
- Oct8.9%
- Nov8.9%
- Dec8.4%
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 Massachusetts: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
6.6% of fatal crashes in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, below the US share of 43%; 26% happened at or near an intersection, about the US share; 19% in the dark on unlit roads, below the US share of 28%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Massachusetts | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 6.6% | 43% | below the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 26% | 25% | about the same as the US share |
| In daylight | 46% | 46% | about the same as the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 29% | 21% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 19% | 28% | below 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 Massachusetts roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 55% of the 363 people killed on Massachusetts roads in 2024; pedestrians 21% (76), motorcyclists 19% (70), cyclists 2.8% (10).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 198 | 55% |
| Pedestrians | 76 | 21% |
| Motorcyclists | 70 | 19% |
| Cyclists | 10 | 2.8% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 9 | 2.5% |
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 Massachusetts: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 30% of fatal crashes in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2024, above the US share of 26%; speeding in 29%, above the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 4.9%, below the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 12%, above the US share of 8.7%; 62% 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 (1,753 in Massachusetts).
| Massachusetts | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 30% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 29% | 27% | above the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 12% | 8.7% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 62% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.9% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 16% | about the same as 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 fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 35%; a collision with another vehicle in 32%, a pedestrian in 20%, a rollover in 3.4%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 1,217 | 35% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 1,121 | 32% |
| Pedestrian | 690 | 20% |
| Other | 172 | 4.9% |
| Rollover | 120 | 3.4% |
| Cyclist | 84 | 2.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 77 | 2.2% |
| Not reported | 2 | 0.1% |
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 Massachusetts
Cars were 44% of the 4,934 vehicles in fatal crashes in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2024, SUVs 24%, motorcycles 12%, pickups 9.6%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 2,154 | 44% |
| SUVs | 1,167 | 24% |
| Motorcycles | 587 | 12% |
| Pickups | 475 | 9.6% |
| Other trucks | 221 | 4.5% |
| Vans | 194 | 3.9% |
| Truck-tractors | 109 | 2.2% |
| Buses | 27 | 0.5% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in Massachusetts per resident and per mile driven
| Massachusetts | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 5.1 | 11.5 | below the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 5.3 | 11.8 | below the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 0.59 | 1.19 | below the US rate |
Population 7,136,171 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 62,013 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 Massachusetts
- How many people died in car accidents in Massachusetts in 2024?
- 363 people died in 349 fatal crashes on Massachusetts roads in 2024, 6.1% more than in 2023. That is 5.1 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 Massachusetts?
- I-495 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2024: 140, with 155 deaths. I-95 was second with 86.
- Which county in Massachusetts has the most fatal crashes?
- Middlesex County, with 499 fatal crashes and 513 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 54 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in Massachusetts happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 149 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Massachusetts involved a drinking driver?
- 1,033 of 3,483 fatal crashes in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 30%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for Massachusetts
Every county in Massachusetts 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.
- Middlesex County 499
- Worcester County 497
- Bristol County 403
- Hampden County 390
- Norfolk County 350
- Plymouth County 349
- Essex County 322
- Suffolk County 256
- Barnstable County 132
- Berkshire County 119
- Hampshire County 81
- Franklin County 69
Road pages for Massachusetts
Every numbered road in Massachusetts with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Massachusetts 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.