US 71 in Missouri: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 65 fatal crashes on US 71 in Missouri killed 73 people, the 22nd most of 251 numbered roads in Missouri. In 2024 there were 4 fatal crashes and 5 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 6 counties of Missouri. All fatal crashes in Missouri.
Deaths on US 71 in Missouri by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 5 |
| 2023 | 8 | 8 |
| 2022 | 7 | 9 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 |
| 2019 | 5 | 7 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 |
| 2016 | 8 | 9 |
| 2015 | 9 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 71 in Missouri: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Jackson County had the most fatal crashes on US 71 from 2015 to 2024: 40, with 42 deaths. Jackson, McDonald and Andrew counties together held 91% of fatal crashes on US 71 in Missouri from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson County | 1 | 40 | 42 |
| 2 | McDonald County | 1 | 14 | 18 |
| 3 | Andrew County | 1 | 5 | 7 |
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 71 in Missouri
65 fatal crashes on US 71 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 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is November.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 6.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 6.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.6%
- Feb6.2%
- Mar3.1%
- Apr6.2%
- May3.1%
- Jun7.7%
- Jul12.3%
- Aug9.2%
- Sep12.3%
- Oct12.3%
- Nov15.4%
- Dec7.7%
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 71 in Missouri first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 40%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 28%, a pedestrian in 20%, a rollover in 7.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 26 | 40% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 18 | 28% |
| Pedestrian | 13 | 20% |
| Rollover | 5 | 7.7% |
| Other | 2 | 3.1% |
| Cyclist | 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 71 in Missouri compare with the state
The largest difference from Missouri: from 2015 to 2024, 34% of fatal crashes on US 71 in Missouri were on rural roads, against 52% across Missouri. Below the Missouri share: unlit roads at night 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 65 crashes.
| US 71 | Missouri | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 34% | 52% | below the Missouri share |
| At or near an intersection | 31% | 21% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 17% | 28% | below the Missouri share |
| A drinking driver | 23% | 28% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| Speeding | 31% | 37% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.2% | 8.9% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 68% | 63% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| Hit-and-run | 9.2% | 5.2% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.2% | 15% | below the Missouri share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 18% | 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 71 in Missouri
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 71 in Missouri?
- 65 fatal crashes killed 73 people on US 71 in Missouri from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 4 fatal crashes and 5 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 71 in Missouri do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Jackson County had the most fatal crashes on US 71 from 2015 to 2024: 40, with 42 deaths. McDonald County was second with 14.
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 71 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 71 in Missouri (filed under 6 spellings, such as "US-71", "US-71 BRUCE R WATKINS DR", "US-71 BU", "US-71 HWY RP"). 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.