US 61 in Mississippi: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 169 fatal crashes on US 61 in Mississippi killed 196 people, the 3rd most of 226 numbered roads in Mississippi. In 2024 there were 12 fatal crashes and 13 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 12 counties of Mississippi. All fatal crashes in Mississippi.
Deaths on US 61 in Mississippi by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | 13 |
| 2023 | 15 | 18 |
| 2022 | 14 | 18 |
| 2021 | 21 | 24 |
| 2020 | 24 | 29 |
| 2019 | 18 | 20 |
| 2018 | 18 | 21 |
| 2017 | 14 | 15 |
| 2016 | 13 | 15 |
| 2015 | 20 | 23 |
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 Mississippi: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Bolivar County had the most fatal crashes on US 61 from 2015 to 2024: 27, with 30 deaths. Bolivar, Tunica and Washington counties together held 42% of fatal crashes on US 61 in Mississippi from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bolivar County | 1 | 27 | 30 |
| 2 | Tunica County | 1 | 26 | 29 |
| 3 | Washington County | 3 | 18 | 21 |
| 4 | Warren County | 0 | 17 | 18 |
| 5 | Coahoma County | 1 | 13 | 19 |
| 6 | Adams County | 0 | 12 | 13 |
| 7 | DeSoto County | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| 8 | Wilkinson County | 1 | 12 | 12 |
| 9 | Jefferson County | 1 | 10 | 11 |
| 10 | Claiborne County | 2 | 9 | 11 |
| 11 | Sharkey County | 0 | 8 | 11 |
| 12 | Issaquena County | 1 | 5 | 8 |
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 Mississippi
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 12 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 pm; 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 | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 7.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.3%
- Feb5.9%
- Mar7.7%
- Apr10.7%
- May12.4%
- Jun7.7%
- Jul8.9%
- Aug6.5%
- Sep10.7%
- Oct11.8%
- Nov7.7%
- Dec4.7%
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 Mississippi first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 48%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 24%, a pedestrian in 18%, a rollover in 7.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 81 | 48% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 40 | 24% |
| Pedestrian | 30 | 18% |
| Rollover | 13 | 7.7% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 1.8% |
| Other | 2 | 1.2% |
| 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 US 61 in Mississippi compare with the state
The largest difference from Mississippi: from 2015 to 2024, 30% of fatal crashes on US 61 in Mississippi were at or near an intersection, against 15% across Mississippi. Also above the Mississippi share: rural roads. Below it: unbelted occupants. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Mississippi. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 169 crashes.
| US 61 | Mississippi | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 82% | 70% | above the Mississippi share |
| At or near an intersection | 30% | 15% | above the Mississippi share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 36% | 35% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 19% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| Speeding | 12% | 15% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 0.6% | 1.7% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 45% | 53% | below the Mississippi share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.7% | 3.6% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| A motorcycle involved | 5.3% | 7.3% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 16% | 12% | about the same as the Mississippi 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 Mississippi
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 61 in Mississippi?
- 169 fatal crashes killed 196 people on US 61 in Mississippi from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 12 fatal crashes and 13 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 61 in Mississippi do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Bolivar County had the most fatal crashes on US 61 from 2015 to 2024: 27, with 30 deaths. Tunica County was second with 26.
- When do fatal crashes on US 61 in Mississippi happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 12 fatal crashes.
Other roads in Mississippi with a page
- I-10
- I-20
- I-22
- I-55
- I-59
- State Highway 12
- State Highway 13
- State Highway 15
- State Highway 16
- State Highway 18
- State Highway 19
- State Highway 25
All fatal crashes in Mississippi, 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 Mississippi (filed under 2 spellings, such as "US-61", "US-61 SOUTH"). 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.