Fatal crashes in Nebraska
In 2024, 251 people died in 223 fatal crashes on Nebraska roads, 10.6% more than in 2023. That is about 1 death a day, and 0.6% of all road deaths in the United States.
Nebraska ranks 38th of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and joint 22nd by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in Nebraska since 1975
Road deaths in Nebraska peaked in 1976 at 397; 2024's 251 is 37% below that. The lowest year was 2011 with 181. 2024 is 9% below 2000 and 32% below 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 251 | 223 | +10.6% |
| 2023 | 227 | 206 | -7.0% |
| 2022 | 244 | 214 | +10.4% |
| 2021 | 221 | 192 | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 233 | 217 | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 248 | 212 | +7.8% |
| 2018 | 230 | 201 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 228 | 210 | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 218 | 194 | -11.4% |
| 2015 | 246 | 218 | +9.3% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 225 | 203 | +6.6% |
| 2013 | 211 | 190 | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 212 | 190 | +17.1% |
| 2011 | 181 | 164 | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 190 | 166 | -14.8% |
| 2009 | 223 | 205 | +7.2% |
| 2008 | 208 | 188 | -18.8% |
| 2007 | 256 | 230 | -4.8% |
| 2006 | 269 | 226 | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 276 | 238 | +8.7% |
| 2004 | 254 | 229 | -13.3% |
| 2003 | 293 | 257 | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 307 | 272 | +24.8% |
| 2001 | 246 | 215 | -10.9% |
| 2000 | 276 | 242 | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 295 | 255 | -6.3% |
| 1998 | 315 | 271 | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 302 | 261 | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 293 | 240 | +15.4% |
| 1995 | 254 | 226 | -6.3% |
| 1994 | 271 | 229 | +6.7% |
| 1993 | 254 | 223 | -5.6% |
| 1992 | 269 | 222 | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 275 | 242 | +5.0% |
| 1990 | 262 | 220 | -11.5% |
| 1989 | 296 | 257 | +13.4% |
| 1988 | 261 | 234 | -12.1% |
| 1987 | 297 | 255 | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 290 | 259 | +22.4% |
| 1985 | 237 | 207 | -16.8% |
| 1984 | 285 | 250 | +11.8% |
| 1983 | 255 | 221 | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 261 | 226 | -31.0% |
| 1981 | 378 | 321 | -4.5% |
| 1980 | 396 | 337 | +20.0% |
| 1979 | 330 | 277 | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 340 | 290 | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 345 | 288 | -13.1% |
| 1976 | 397 | 331 | +7.6% |
| 1975 | 369 | 317 | No data |
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads and most dangerous highways in Nebraska
I-80 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Nebraska from 2015 to 2024: 200, with 242 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 45% of all fatal crashes in Nebraska from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 13 US routes, 6 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (8 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in Nebraska, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-80 | 200 | 242 | 51 | Douglas, Dawson, Seward |
| 2 | US 30 | 88 | 100 | 27 | Hall, Dodge, Merrick |
| 3 | US 6 | 77 | 79 | 28 | Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy |
| 4 | US 75 | 68 | 81 | 8 | Douglas, Sarpy, Nemaha |
| 5 | US 81 | 67 | 83 | 18 | Madison, Cedar, York |
| 6 | US 275 | 54 | 62 | 20 | Douglas, Dodge, Cuming |
| 7 | US 77 | 52 | 62 | 16 | Lancaster, Saunders, Gage |
| 8 | US 34 | 46 | 55 | 20 | Lancaster, Cass, York |
| 9 | State Highway 2 | 39 | 45 | 16 | Lancaster, Otoe, Custer |
| 10 | State Highway 92 | 31 | 33 | 13 | Scotts Bluff, Douglas, Saunders |
| 11 | US 20 | 30 | 38 | 9 | Holt, Pierce, Dakota |
| 12 | State Highway 64 | 28 | 30 | 13 | Douglas, Butler |
| 13 | US 83 | 27 | 32 | 6 | Lincoln, Cherry, Red Willow |
| 14 | US 26 | 24 | 31 | 3 | Scotts Bluff, Keith, Morrill |
| 15 | US 281 | 24 | 28 | 7 | Hall, Adams, Webster |
| 16 | State Highway 50 | 21 | 23 | 7 | Sarpy, Douglas, Pawnee |
| 17 | State Highway 15 | 20 | 25 | 5 | Saline, Colfax, Butler |
| 18 | US 385 | 19 | 24 | 5 | Morrill, Box Butte, Dawes |
| 19 | State Highway 35 | 16 | 19 | 7 | Wayne, Dakota |
| 20 | US 183 | 16 | 17 | 4 | Phelps, Buffalo, Custer |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every numbered road in Nebraska as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/nebraska/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in Nebraska
Douglas County had the most fatal crashes in Nebraska from 2015 to 2024: 409, with 441 deaths. Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy counties together held 33% of fatal crashes in Nebraska from 2015 to 2024; the 20 listed held 66%. 92 counties in Nebraska recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed, with deaths per 100,000 residents where the county had 10 or more deaths in 2024.
Per resident, York County has the highest rate in Nebraska: 30.7 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 12.1 for the state as a whole. Counties with fewer than 10,000 residents are hatched rather than shaded: a few crashes on a highway through a small county make a rate that says more about its population than its roads.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | Deaths per 100,000100K, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Douglas County | 58 | 409 | 441 | 10.5 |
| 2 | Lancaster County | 22 | 191 | 203 | 7.2 |
| 3 | Sarpy County | 8 | 93 | 106 | Not enough data |
| 4 | Hall County | 3 | 66 | 71 | Not enough data |
| 5 | Dodge County | 7 | 55 | 64 | Not enough data |
| 6 | Buffalo County | 9 | 54 | 60 | Not enough data |
| 7 | Lincoln County | 5 | 51 | 61 | Not enough data |
| 8 | Cass County | 3 | 48 | 62 | Not enough data |
| 9 | Scotts Bluff County | 5 | 48 | 53 | Not enough data |
| 10 | Madison County | 6 | 46 | 52 | Not enough data |
| 11 | Dawson County | 3 | 46 | 51 | Not enough data |
| 12 | Saunders County | 4 | 40 | 47 | Not enough data |
| 13 | Seward County | 4 | 36 | 48 | Not enough data |
| 14 | York County | 5 | 34 | 43 | Not enough data |
| 15 | Adams County | 3 | 30 | 34 | Not enough data |
| 16 | Platte County | 2 | 27 | 30 | Not enough data |
| 17 | Keith County | 1 | 24 | 33 | Not enough data |
| 18 | Gage County | 2 | 24 | 28 | Not enough data |
| 19 | Merrick County | 4 | 24 | 27 | Not enough data |
| 20 | Washington County | 2 | 23 | 24 | Not enough data |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/nebraska/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in Nebraska
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 75 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 4 pm to 5 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.2 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 31 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 38 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 52 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 56 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 43 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.2 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 31 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 51 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 65 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 31 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 55 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 28 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.9 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 66 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 62 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 41 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 47 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 54 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 61 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 43 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.2 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 50 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 63 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 61 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 75 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.6 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 37 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 70 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 59 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.7%
- Feb5.9%
- Mar7.7%
- Apr7.2%
- May7.8%
- Jun9.0%
- Jul10.0%
- Aug9.1%
- Sep10.5%
- Oct9.3%
- Nov8.1%
- Dec7.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Nebraska: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
69% of fatal crashes in Nebraska from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, above the US share of 43%; 29% happened at or near an intersection, above the US share of 25%; 25% in the dark on unlit roads, below the US share of 28%; most, 53%, in daylight. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Nebraska | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 69% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 29% | 25% | above the US share |
| In daylight | 53% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 17% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 25% | 28% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Nebraska roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 77% of the 251 people killed on Nebraska roads in 2024; motorcyclists 13% (32), pedestrians 7.6% (19), cyclists 1.6% (4).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 193 | 77% |
| Motorcyclists | 32 | 13% |
| Pedestrians | 19 | 7.6% |
| Cyclists | 4 | 1.6% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 3 | 1.2% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Nebraska: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 33% of fatal crashes in Nebraska from 2015 to 2024, above the US share of 26%; speeding in 18%, below the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 2.8%, below the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 5.8%, below the US share of 8.7%; 64% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above the US share of 49%.
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (1,468 in Nebraska).
| Nebraska | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 33% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 18% | 27% | below the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 5.8% | 8.7% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 64% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.8% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 16% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
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 rollover in 13%, a pedestrian in 8.3%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 1,004 | 48% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 494 | 24% |
| Rollover | 277 | 13% |
| Pedestrian | 173 | 8.3% |
| Other | 98 | 4.7% |
| Cyclist | 21 | 1.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 20 | 1.0% |
| 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
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Nebraska
Cars were 32% of the 3,259 vehicles in fatal crashes in Nebraska from 2015 to 2024, pickups 21%, SUVs 19%, truck-tractors 11%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 1,035 | 32% |
| Pickups | 682 | 21% |
| SUVs | 619 | 19% |
| Truck-tractors | 368 | 11% |
| Motorcycles | 262 | 8.0% |
| Vans | 145 | 4.4% |
| Other trucks | 140 | 4.3% |
| Buses | 8 | 0.2% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in Nebraska per resident and per mile driven
| Nebraska | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 12.5 | 11.5 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 12.1 | 11.8 | about the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 1.15 | 1.19 | about the US rate |
Population 2,005,465 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 21,900 million vehicle-miles (FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, table VM-2). The only figures on this page not counted from FARS.
Questions about fatal crashes in Nebraska
- How many people died in car accidents in Nebraska in 2024?
- 251 people died in 223 fatal crashes on Nebraska roads in 2024, 10.6% more than in 2023. That is 12.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.5 across the United States. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Nebraska?
- I-80 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Nebraska from 2015 to 2024: 200, with 242 deaths. US 30 was second with 88.
- Which county in Nebraska has the most fatal crashes?
- Douglas County, with 409 fatal crashes and 441 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 58 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in Nebraska happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 75 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Nebraska involved a drinking driver?
- 680 of 2,087 fatal crashes in Nebraska from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 33%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for Nebraska
Every county in Nebraska with 30 or more fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, roads, hour and weekday, and deaths per 100,000 residents.
Road pages for Nebraska
Every numbered road in Nebraska with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Nebraska numbers come from
Every figure on this page except the rates is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I-35", "I 35" and "I-35/PURPLE HEART TRL" are the same road); frontage roads and ramps ("I35 FRONTAGE") are left out of road counts. Totals from the state highway department and news reports can differ by a few: they count from the state's own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked and revised once a year. Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". Rates per resident and per mile use Census Bureau population estimates and FHWA vehicle-miles, the only figures not counted from FARS. The full method.