Fatal crashes in Taos County, New Mexico
In 2024, 7 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Taos County, New Mexico, up from 4 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 75 fatal crashes and 80 deaths, the 17th most of 33 counties in New Mexico.
Deaths in Taos County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 7 |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 |
| 2022 | 7 | 8 |
| 2021 | 12 | 13 |
| 2020 | 15 | 15 |
| 2019 | 3 | 5 |
| 2018 | 9 | 9 |
| 2017 | 8 | 9 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 |
| 2015 | 2 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Taos County
State Highway 68 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Taos County from 2015 to 2024: 15, with 18 deaths. The 4 roads listed held 55% of all fatal crashes in Taos County from 2015 to 2024; 1 US route, 3 state highways. 83% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 17% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 68 | 15 | 18 | 1 | no page |
| 2 | State Highway 522 | 11 | 12 | 5 | no page |
| 3 | US 64 | 8 | 8 | 2 | |
| 4 | State Highway 38 | 7 | 8 | 1 | no page |
Taos had 17% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 13 of 75.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Taos 13, Red River 6, El Prado 5. 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 Taos County
75 fatal crashes in Taos County, New Mexico 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 2 pm to 3 pm; the worst month is June.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 9.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan1.3%
- Feb1.3%
- Mar5.3%
- Apr10.7%
- May8.0%
- Jun13.3%
- Jul6.7%
- Aug9.3%
- Sep12.0%
- Oct10.7%
- Nov8.0%
- Dec13.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Taos County first hit
The first harmful event was a rollover in 28%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a collision with another vehicle in 24%, a pedestrian in 11%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Rollover | 21 | 28% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 20 | 27% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 18 | 24% |
| Pedestrian | 8 | 11% |
| Other | 7 | 9.3% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.3% |
| 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 in Taos County compare with New Mexico
The largest difference from New Mexico: from 2015 to 2024, 61% of fatal crashes in Taos County were with speeding recorded, against 36% across New Mexico. Also above the New Mexico share: rural roads, drinking drivers and unbelted occupants. Below it: intersections and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of New Mexico. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 75 crashes.
| Taos | New Mexico | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 78% | 55% | above the New Mexico share |
| At or near an intersection | 12% | 22% | below the New Mexico share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 37% | 33% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| A drinking driver | 47% | 26% | above the New Mexico share |
| Speeding | 61% | 36% | above the New Mexico share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 32% | 39% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 73% | 54% | above the New Mexico share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.7% | 8.7% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| A motorcycle involved | 13% | 14% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 21% | below the New Mexico 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 Taos County, New Mexico
- How many people died in car accidents in Taos County in 2024?
- 7 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Taos County, New Mexico, in 2024, up from 4 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Taos County?
- State Highway 68 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Taos County from 2015 to 2024: 15, with 18 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Taos County involved a drinking driver?
- 35 of 75 fatal crashes in Taos County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 47%, against 26% across New Mexico.
Other counties in New Mexico with a page
- Bernalillo County
- San Juan County
- McKinley County
- Doña Ana County
- Santa Fe County
- Lea County
- Sandoval County
- Eddy County
- Cibola County
- Chaves County
- Rio Arriba County
- Valencia County
All fatal crashes in New Mexico, with every county ranked.
Where the Taos County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Taos County (county code 55). 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/new-mexico/taos-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”