Fatal crashes in New Mexico
In 2024, 409 people died in 378 fatal crashes on New Mexico roads, 7.0% fewer than in 2023. That is about 1 death a day, and 1% of all road deaths in the United States.
New Mexico ranks 31st of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and 3rd by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in New Mexico since 1975
Road deaths in New Mexico peaked in 1978 at 669; 2024's 409 is 39% below that. The lowest year was 2015 with 298. 2024 is 5% below 2000 and 26% below 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 409 | 378 | -7.0% |
| 2023 | 440 | 405 | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 466 | 419 | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 483 | 429 | +21.4% |
| 2020 | 398 | 365 | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 425 | 369 | +8.4% |
| 2018 | 392 | 351 | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 380 | 341 | -6.2% |
| 2016 | 405 | 361 | +35.9% |
| 2015 | 298 | 269 | -22.8% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 386 | 340 | +24.1% |
| 2013 | 311 | 275 | -15.0% |
| 2012 | 366 | 338 | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 350 | 305 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 349 | 317 | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 361 | 319 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 366 | 324 | -11.4% |
| 2007 | 413 | 371 | -14.7% |
| 2006 | 484 | 424 | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 488 | 420 | -6.3% |
| 2004 | 521 | 439 | +18.7% |
| 2003 | 439 | 367 | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 449 | 398 | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 464 | 415 | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 432 | 386 | -6.1% |
| 1999 | 460 | 388 | +8.5% |
| 1998 | 424 | 374 | -12.4% |
| 1997 | 484 | 400 | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 485 | 416 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 485 | 425 | +8.5% |
| 1994 | 447 | 388 | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 431 | 386 | -6.3% |
| 1992 | 460 | 398 | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 469 | 422 | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 499 | 440 | -7.2% |
| 1989 | 538 | 469 | +10.5% |
| 1988 | 487 | 433 | -14.3% |
| 1987 | 568 | 493 | +13.8% |
| 1986 | 499 | 436 | -6.7% |
| 1985 | 535 | 453 | +7.6% |
| 1984 | 497 | 426 | -6.4% |
| 1983 | 531 | 467 | -8.0% |
| 1982 | 577 | 489 | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 544 | 480 | -10.2% |
| 1980 | 606 | 513 | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 633 | 555 | -5.4% |
| 1978 | 669 | 588 | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 668 | 567 | +21.7% |
| 1976 | 549 | 461 | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 555 | 466 | 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 New Mexico
I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024: 361, with 427 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 44% of all fatal crashes in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 10 US routes, 7 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (46 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in New Mexico, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-40 | 361 | 427 | 128 | Bernalillo, McKinley, Cibola |
| 2 | I-25 | 295 | 334 | 107 | Bernalillo, Socorro, Santa Fe |
| 3 | US 285 | 97 | 104 | 35 | Chaves, Eddy, Santa Fe |
| 4 | I-10 | 95 | 118 | 23 | Luna, Hidalgo, Doña Ana |
| 5 | US 64 | 88 | 94 | 27 | San Juan, Rio Arriba, Taos |
| 6 | State Highway 45 | 87 | 90 | 20 | Bernalillo |
| 7 | US 550 | 73 | 85 | 21 | Sandoval, San Juan, Rio Arriba |
| 8 | US 70 | 71 | 75 | 25 | Chaves, Roosevelt, Doña Ana |
| 9 | US 60 | 57 | 64 | 19 | Socorro, Torrance, De Baca |
| 10 | US 84 | 52 | 65 | 13 | Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Guadalupe |
| 11 | US 54 | 49 | 60 | 26 | Otero, Guadalupe, Lincoln |
| 12 | US 62 | 48 | 54 | 21 | Lea, Eddy |
| 13 | US 491 | 44 | 52 | 8 | San Juan, McKinley |
| 14 | State Highway 68 | 38 | 44 | 8 | Rio Arriba, Taos, Santa Fe |
| 15 | State Highway 128 | 36 | 45 | 9 | Lea, Eddy |
| 16 | State Highway 14 | 35 | 35 | 11 | Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Sandoval |
| 17 | State Highway 47 | 32 | 33 | 5 | Valencia, Bernalillo |
| 18 | State Highway 18 | 31 | 38 | 13 | Lea |
| 19 | US 380 | 26 | 30 | 9 | Chaves, Lea, Lincoln |
| 20 | State Highway 118 | 25 | 29 | 5 | McKinley |
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 New Mexico as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/new-mexico/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in New Mexico
Bernalillo County had the most fatal crashes in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024: 988, with 1,043 deaths. Bernalillo, San Juan and McKinley counties together held 40% of fatal crashes in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024; the 20 listed held 90%. 33 counties in New Mexico 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, Torrance County has the highest rate in New Mexico: 66.4 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 19.4 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 | Bernalillo County | 112 | 988 | 1,043 | 17.4 |
| 2 | San Juan County | 18 | 251 | 285 | 16.6 |
| 3 | McKinley County | 14 | 237 | 278 | 24.7 |
| 4 | Doña Ana County | 20 | 216 | 237 | 10.0 |
| 5 | Santa Fe County | 17 | 188 | 201 | 11.4 |
| 6 | Lea County | 30 | 168 | 194 | 41.3 |
| 7 | Sandoval County | 11 | 137 | 157 | 8.2 |
| 8 | Eddy County | 18 | 131 | 148 | 34.2 |
| 9 | Cibola County | 5 | 117 | 141 | Not enough data |
| 10 | Chaves County | 14 | 105 | 113 | 22.0 |
| 11 | Rio Arriba County | 9 | 103 | 116 | Not enough data |
| 12 | Valencia County | 11 | 97 | 99 | 13.6 |
| 13 | Torrance County | 12 | 90 | 103 | 87.6 |
| 14 | Otero County | 11 | 86 | 95 | 15.8 |
| 15 | Luna County | 3 | 80 | 95 | Not enough data |
| 16 | Socorro County | 10 | 77 | 94 | 87.7 |
| 17 | Taos County | 7 | 75 | 80 | Not enough data |
| 18 | Guadalupe County | 9 | 67 | 87 | 228.1 |
| 19 | Curry County | 3 | 56 | 59 | Not enough data |
| 20 | San Miguel County | 8 | 55 | 58 | 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/new-mexico/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in New Mexico
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 161 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 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 | 2.6 percent, 97 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 50 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 93 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 127 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 133 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 50 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 45 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 68 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 89 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 115 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 102 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.8 percent, 31 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 82 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 54 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 78 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 103 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 105 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.6 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 72 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 63 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 84 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 111 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 103 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.1 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 62 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 92 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 105 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 98 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.5 percent, 56 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 81 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 90 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 143 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 161 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.7 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 93 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 65 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 106 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 140 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 158 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.2%
- Feb7.5%
- Mar7.9%
- Apr7.5%
- May8.4%
- Jun8.8%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug8.8%
- Sep9.4%
- Oct9.1%
- Nov7.9%
- Dec8.5%
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 New Mexico: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
55% of fatal crashes in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, above the US share of 43%; 22% happened at or near an intersection, below the US share of 25%; 33% in the dark on unlit roads, above the US share of 28%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| New Mexico | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 55% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 22% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 45% | 46% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 16% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 33% | 28% | above 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 New Mexico roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 64% of the 409 people killed on New Mexico roads in 2024; pedestrians 22% (90), motorcyclists 12% (50), cyclists 1.5% (6).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 261 | 64% |
| Pedestrians | 90 | 22% |
| Motorcyclists | 50 | 12% |
| Cyclists | 6 | 1.5% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 2 | 0.5% |
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 New Mexico: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 26% of fatal crashes in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024, about the US share; speeding in 36%, above the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 8.7%, above the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 39%, above the US share of 8.7%; 54% 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 (2,167 in New Mexico).
| New Mexico | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 26% | 26% | about the same as the US share |
| Speeding | 36% | 27% | above the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 39% | 8.7% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 54% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.7% | 6.5% | above the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 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 36%; a pedestrian in 22%, a rollover in 19%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 16%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 1,327 | 36% |
| Pedestrian | 804 | 22% |
| Rollover | 699 | 19% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 603 | 16% |
| Other | 168 | 4.6% |
| Cyclist | 66 | 1.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 19 | 0.5% |
| Not reported | 1 | 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 New Mexico
Cars were 32% of the 5,372 vehicles in fatal crashes in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024, pickups 22%, SUVs 19%, truck-tractors 11%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 1,694 | 32% |
| Pickups | 1,192 | 22% |
| SUVs | 1,030 | 19% |
| Truck-tractors | 591 | 11% |
| Motorcycles | 518 | 9.6% |
| Other trucks | 210 | 3.9% |
| Vans | 128 | 2.4% |
| Buses | 9 | 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 New Mexico per resident and per mile driven
| New Mexico | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 19.2 | 11.5 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 19.4 | 11.8 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 1.43 | 1.19 | above the US rate |
Population 2,130,256 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 28,645 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 New Mexico
- How many people died in car accidents in New Mexico in 2024?
- 409 people died in 378 fatal crashes on New Mexico roads in 2024, 7.0% fewer than in 2023. That is 19.2 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 New Mexico?
- I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024: 361, with 427 deaths. I-25 was second with 295.
- Which county in New Mexico has the most fatal crashes?
- Bernalillo County, with 988 fatal crashes and 1,043 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 112 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in New Mexico happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 161 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in New Mexico involved a drinking driver?
- 972 of 3,687 fatal crashes in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 26%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for New Mexico
Every county in New Mexico 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.
- Bernalillo County 988
- San Juan County 251
- McKinley County 237
- Doña Ana County 216
- Santa Fe County 188
- Lea County 168
- Sandoval County 137
- Eddy County 131
- Cibola County 117
- Chaves County 105
- Rio Arriba County 103
- Valencia County 97
- Torrance County 90
- Otero County 86
- Luna County 80
- Socorro County 77
- Taos County 75
- Guadalupe County 67
- Curry County 56
- San Miguel County 55
- Grant County 49
- Lincoln County 47
- Roosevelt County 44
- Colfax County 41
- Quay County 41
- Sierra County 32
- Hidalgo County 30
Road pages for New Mexico
Every numbered road in New Mexico with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the New Mexico 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.