US 20 in Massachusetts: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 74 fatal crashes on US 20 in Massachusetts killed 83 people, the 4th most of 158 numbered roads in Massachusetts. In 2024 there were 11 fatal crashes and 12 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 6 counties of Massachusetts. All fatal crashes in Massachusetts.
Deaths on US 20 in Massachusetts by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 12 |
| 2023 | 5 | 6 |
| 2022 | 4 | 5 |
| 2021 | 10 | 11 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 | 9 |
| 2017 | 7 | 9 |
| 2016 | 7 | 8 |
| 2015 | 10 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 20 in Massachusetts: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Worcester County had the most fatal crashes on US 20 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 30 deaths. Worcester, Hampden and Berkshire counties together held 85% of fatal crashes on US 20 in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2024; the 4 listed held 95%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester County | 1 | 26 | 30 |
| 2 | Hampden County | 4 | 26 | 28 |
| 3 | Berkshire County | 3 | 11 | 12 |
| 4 | Middlesex County | 2 | 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 20 in Massachusetts
70 fatal crashes on US 20 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 6 pm to 7 pm; the worst month is June.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 10.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.4%
- Feb5.4%
- Mar5.4%
- Apr9.5%
- May8.1%
- Jun10.8%
- Jul10.8%
- Aug8.1%
- Sep10.8%
- Oct8.1%
- Nov8.1%
- Dec9.5%
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 20 in Massachusetts first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 46%; a pedestrian in 24%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 19%, a rollover in 5.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 34 | 46% |
| Pedestrian | 18 | 24% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 14 | 19% |
| Rollover | 4 | 5.4% |
| Other | 2 | 2.7% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.4% |
| 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 20 in Massachusetts compare with the state
From 2015 to 2024, every share for US 20 in Massachusetts is within chance of the Massachusetts share. 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 74 crashes.
| US 20 | Massachusetts | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 12% | 6.6% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| At or near an intersection | 34% | 26% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 18% | 19% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| A drinking driver | 31% | 30% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| Speeding | 22% | 29% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 14% | 12% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 58% | 62% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.7% | 4.9% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| A motorcycle involved | 19% | 16% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 21% | 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 US 20 in Massachusetts
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 20 in Massachusetts?
- 74 fatal crashes killed 83 people on US 20 in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 11 fatal crashes and 12 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 20 in Massachusetts do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Worcester County had the most fatal crashes on US 20 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 30 deaths. Hampden County was second with 26.
Other roads in Massachusetts with a page
- I-495
- I-90
- I-93
- I-95
- State Highway 140
- State Highway 24
- State Highway 28
- State Highway 3
- State Highway 9
- US 1
All fatal crashes in Massachusetts, with every road ranked.
Where the US 20 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 20 in Massachusetts (filed under 40 spellings, such as "US-20", "US-20 2223 PAGE BOULEVARD", "US-20 307 HARTFORD TURNPIKE", "US-20 BOSTON POST 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.