US 72 in Mississippi: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 68 fatal crashes on US 72 in Mississippi killed 81 people, the 16th most of 226 numbered roads in Mississippi. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 7 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 5 counties of Mississippi. All fatal crashes in Mississippi.
Deaths on US 72 in Mississippi by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 7 |
| 2023 | 8 | 11 |
| 2022 | 10 | 10 |
| 2021 | 6 | 7 |
| 2020 | 6 | 7 |
| 2019 | 3 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 | 5 |
| 2017 | 10 | 15 |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 |
| 2015 | 10 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 72 in Mississippi: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Alcorn County had the most fatal crashes on US 72 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 29 deaths. Alcorn, Marshall and Benton counties together held 74% of fatal crashes on US 72 in Mississippi from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alcorn County | 3 | 26 | 29 |
| 2 | Marshall County | 0 | 13 | 16 |
| 3 | Benton County | 3 | 11 | 13 |
| 4 | Tippah County | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| 5 | Tishomingo County | 1 | 9 | 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 72 in Mississippi
68 fatal crashes on US 72 in Mississippi 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 9 am to 10 am; the worst month is April.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 10.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.8%
- Feb10.3%
- Mar2.9%
- Apr13.2%
- May5.9%
- Jun7.4%
- Jul7.4%
- Aug13.2%
- Sep5.9%
- Oct8.8%
- Nov11.8%
- Dec4.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 72 in Mississippi first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 68%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 13%, a pedestrian in 8.8%, a cyclist in 4.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 46 | 68% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 9 | 13% |
| Pedestrian | 6 | 8.8% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 4.4% |
| Rollover | 3 | 4.4% |
| Other | 1 | 1.5% |
| 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 72 in Mississippi compare with the state
The largest difference from Mississippi: from 2015 to 2024, 28% of fatal crashes on US 72 in Mississippi were at or near an intersection, against 15% across Mississippi. 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 68 crashes.
| US 72 | Mississippi | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 79% | 70% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| At or near an intersection | 28% | 15% | above the Mississippi share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 31% | 35% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| A drinking driver | 10% | 19% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| Speeding | 10% | 15% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 1.5% | 1.7% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 43% | 53% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.5% | 3.6% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| A motorcycle involved | 7.4% | 7.3% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.9% | 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 72 in Mississippi
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 72 in Mississippi?
- 68 fatal crashes killed 81 people on US 72 in Mississippi from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 7 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 72 in Mississippi do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Alcorn County had the most fatal crashes on US 72 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 29 deaths. Marshall County was second with 13.
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 72 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 72 in Mississippi. 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.