State Highway 3 in Massachusetts: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 35 fatal crashes on State Highway 3 in Massachusetts killed 35 people, the 14th most of 158 numbered roads in Massachusetts. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 7 deaths on the road.
A state highway running through 4 counties of Massachusetts. All fatal crashes in Massachusetts.
Deaths on State Highway 3 in Massachusetts by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 |
| 2020 | 4 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 3 in Massachusetts: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Plymouth County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 3 from 2015 to 2024: 22, with 22 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plymouth County | 4 | 22 | 22 |
| 2 | Norfolk County | 2 | 10 | 10 |
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 3 in Massachusetts
35 fatal crashes on State Highway 3 in Massachusetts 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 4 am to 5 am; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 11.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Sat | 5.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 11.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.7%
- Feb2.9%
- Mar8.6%
- Apr8.6%
- May11.4%
- Jun8.6%
- Jul8.6%
- Aug8.6%
- Sep8.6%
- Oct8.6%
- Nov8.6%
- Dec11.4%
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 3 in Massachusetts first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in most fatal crashes, 57%; a collision with another vehicle in 26%, a pedestrian in 8.6%, a rollover in 2.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 20 | 57% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 9 | 26% |
| Pedestrian | 3 | 8.6% |
| Other | 2 | 5.7% |
| Rollover | 1 | 2.9% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 State Highway 3 in Massachusetts compare with the state
The largest difference from Massachusetts: from 2015 to 2024, 54% of fatal crashes on State Highway 3 in Massachusetts were in the dark on unlit roads, against 19% across Massachusetts. Below the Massachusetts share: intersections. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Massachusetts. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 35 crashes.
| State Highway 3 | Massachusetts | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 0.0% | 6.6% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.0% | 26% | below the Massachusetts share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 54% | 19% | above the Massachusetts share |
| A drinking driver | 34% | 30% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| Speeding | 31% | 29% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 5.7% | 12% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 67% | 62% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| Hit-and-run | 0.0% | 4.9% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| A motorcycle involved | 8.6% | 16% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 20% | about the same as the Massachusetts 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 3 in Massachusetts
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 3 in Massachusetts?
- 35 fatal crashes killed 35 people on State Highway 3 in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 7 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on State Highway 3 in Massachusetts do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Plymouth County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 3 from 2015 to 2024: 22, with 22 deaths. Norfolk County was second with 10.
Other roads in Massachusetts with a page
All fatal crashes in Massachusetts, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 3 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 3 in Massachusetts (filed under 10 spellings, such as "SR- 3 N", "SR-3", "SR-3 MAIN ST", "SR-3 MEMORIAL DR"). 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.