Fatal crashes in Buchanan County, Missouri
In 2024, 8 people died in 8 fatal crashes in Buchanan County, Missouri, down from 16 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 94 fatal crashes and 106 deaths, the 21st most of 115 counties in Missouri.
Deaths in Buchanan County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 8 |
| 2023 | 14 | 16 |
| 2022 | 14 | 16 |
| 2021 | 14 | 18 |
| 2020 | 8 | 8 |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 |
| 2017 | 9 | 12 |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Buchanan County
US 59 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Buchanan County from 2015 to 2024: 10, with 10 deaths. The 3 roads listed held 26% of all fatal crashes in Buchanan County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 2 US routes. 46% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 54% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 59 | 10 | 10 | 3 | no page |
| 2 | US 169 | 9 | 9 | 4 | no page |
| 3 | I-29 | 5 | 5 | 1 | no page |
St. Joseph had 38% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 36 of 94.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: St. Joseph 36, St Joseph 16, Saint Joseph 11. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Buchanan County
90 fatal crashes in Buchanan County, Missouri 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 3 pm to 4 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 | 5.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 8.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 4.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.6%
- Feb5.3%
- Mar6.4%
- Apr10.6%
- May8.5%
- Jun8.5%
- Jul8.5%
- Aug12.8%
- Sep8.5%
- Oct3.2%
- Nov10.6%
- Dec7.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Buchanan County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 44%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 25%, a pedestrian in 12%, a rollover in 8.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 41 | 44% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 23 | 25% |
| Pedestrian | 11 | 12% |
| Other | 9 | 9.6% |
| Rollover | 8 | 8.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 2.1% |
| Cyclist | 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 in Buchanan County compare with Missouri
The largest difference from Missouri: from 2015 to 2024, 27% of fatal crashes in Buchanan County were on rural roads, against 52% across Missouri. Also above the Missouri share: intersections and motorcycles. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Missouri. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 94 crashes.
| Buchanan | Missouri | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 27% | 52% | below the Missouri share |
| At or near an intersection | 32% | 21% | above the Missouri share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 28% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| A drinking driver | 30% | 28% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| Speeding | 38% | 37% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 11% | 8.9% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 58% | 63% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.4% | 5.2% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| A motorcycle involved | 32% | 15% | above the Missouri share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 12% | about the same as the Missouri 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 in Buchanan County, Missouri
- How many people died in car accidents in Buchanan County in 2024?
- 8 people died in 8 fatal crashes in Buchanan County, Missouri, in 2024, down from 16 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Buchanan County?
- US 59 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Buchanan County from 2015 to 2024: 10, with 10 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Buchanan County involved a drinking driver?
- 28 of 94 fatal crashes in Buchanan County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 30%, against 28% across Missouri.
Other counties in Missouri with a page
- Jackson County
- St. Louis County
- St. Louis city
- Greene County
- Jefferson County
- St. Charles County
- Clay County
- Franklin County
- Boone County
- Jasper County
- Newton County
- Cass County
All fatal crashes in Missouri, with every county ranked.
Where the Buchanan County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Buchanan County (county code 21). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/missouri/buchanan-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”