US 61 in Missouri: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 156 fatal crashes on US 61 in Missouri killed 172 people, the 4th most of 251 numbered roads in Missouri. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 18 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 16 counties of Missouri. All fatal crashes in Missouri.
Deaths on US 61 in Missouri by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 | 18 |
| 2023 | 16 | 16 |
| 2022 | 22 | 23 |
| 2021 | 18 | 22 |
| 2020 | 16 | 20 |
| 2019 | 14 | 14 |
| 2018 | 16 | 17 |
| 2017 | 14 | 14 |
| 2016 | 14 | 17 |
| 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 61 in Missouri: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Jefferson County had the most fatal crashes on US 61 from 2015 to 2024: 28, with 29 deaths. Jefferson, Lincoln and St. Charles counties together held 43% of fatal crashes on US 61 in Missouri from 2015 to 2024; the 11 listed held 93%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County | 2 | 28 | 29 |
| 2 | Lincoln County | 3 | 21 | 23 |
| 3 | St. Charles County | 2 | 18 | 24 |
| 4 | Marion County | 3 | 18 | 20 |
| 5 | Cape Girardeau County | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| 6 | New Madrid County | 1 | 11 | 14 |
| 7 | Scott County | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| 8 | St. Louis County | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | Pike County | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 10 | Ralls County | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| 11 | Ste. Genevieve County | 0 | 6 | 6 |
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 Missouri
155 fatal crashes on US 61 in 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 7 pm to 8 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.8%
- Feb8.3%
- Mar5.1%
- Apr7.7%
- May10.9%
- Jun9.6%
- Jul7.7%
- Aug8.3%
- Sep7.7%
- Oct12.2%
- Nov8.3%
- Dec8.3%
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 Missouri first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 50%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 24%, a rollover in 12%, a pedestrian in 9.6%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 78 | 50% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 38 | 24% |
| Rollover | 18 | 12% |
| Pedestrian | 15 | 9.6% |
| Other | 5 | 3.2% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 0.6% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.6% |
| 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 Missouri compare with the state
The largest difference from Missouri: from 2015 to 2024, 24% of fatal crashes on US 61 in Missouri were with speeding recorded, against 37% across Missouri. Below the Missouri share: hit-and-runs. 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 156 crashes.
| US 61 | Missouri | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 49% | 52% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| At or near an intersection | 24% | 21% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 31% | 28% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| A drinking driver | 21% | 28% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| Speeding | 24% | 37% | below the Missouri share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.7% | 8.9% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 58% | 63% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.3% | 5.2% | below the Missouri share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 15% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 8.7% | 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 on US 61 in Missouri
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 61 in Missouri?
- 156 fatal crashes killed 172 people on US 61 in Missouri from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 18 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 61 in Missouri do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Jefferson County had the most fatal crashes on US 61 from 2015 to 2024: 28, with 29 deaths. Lincoln County was second with 21.
Other roads in Missouri with a page
- I-270
- I-435
- I-44
- I-49
- I-55
- I-70
- State Highway 100
- State Highway 13
- State Highway 21
- State Highway 30
- State Highway 32
- State Highway 43
All fatal crashes in Missouri, 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 Missouri (filed under 6 spellings, such as "US-61", "US-61 67", "US-61 RP 6587", "US-61 RP 6777"). 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.