US 550 in New Mexico: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 73 fatal crashes on US 550 in New Mexico killed 85 people, the 7th most of 206 numbered roads in New Mexico. In 2024 there were 9 fatal crashes and 10 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 3 counties of New Mexico. All fatal crashes in New Mexico.
Deaths on US 550 in New Mexico by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | 10 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 5 | 6 |
| 2021 | 7 | 7 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 |
| 2019 | 8 | 9 |
| 2018 | 9 | 10 |
| 2017 | 9 | 13 |
| 2016 | 6 | 10 |
| 2015 | 8 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 550 in New Mexico: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Sandoval County had the most fatal crashes on US 550 from 2015 to 2024: 39, with 49 deaths. Sandoval, San Juan and Rio Arriba counties together held 100% of fatal crashes on US 550 in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandoval County | 3 | 39 | 49 |
| 2 | San Juan County | 4 | 28 | 30 |
| 3 | Rio Arriba County | 2 | 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 550 in New Mexico
73 fatal crashes on US 550 in 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 4 pm to 5 pm; the worst month is December.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 6.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.2%
- Feb8.2%
- Mar6.8%
- Apr9.6%
- May9.6%
- Jun5.5%
- Jul2.7%
- Aug12.3%
- Sep8.2%
- Oct5.5%
- Nov9.6%
- Dec13.7%
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 550 in New Mexico first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 52%; a pedestrian in 18%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 12%, a rollover in 11%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 38 | 52% |
| Pedestrian | 13 | 18% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 9 | 12% |
| Rollover | 8 | 11% |
| Other | 4 | 5.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.4% |
| Cyclist | 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 550 in New Mexico compare with the state
The largest difference from New Mexico: from 2015 to 2024, 77% of fatal crashes on US 550 in New Mexico were on rural roads, against 55% across New Mexico. 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 73 crashes.
| US 550 | New Mexico | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 77% | 55% | above the New Mexico share |
| At or near an intersection | 18% | 22% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 23% | 33% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| A drinking driver | 25% | 26% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| Speeding | 37% | 36% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 43% | 39% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 46% | 54% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.5% | 8.7% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.8% | 14% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 15% | 21% | about the same as 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 on US 550 in New Mexico
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 550 in New Mexico?
- 73 fatal crashes killed 85 people on US 550 in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 9 fatal crashes and 10 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 550 in New Mexico do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Sandoval County had the most fatal crashes on US 550 from 2015 to 2024: 39, with 49 deaths. San Juan County was second with 28.
Other roads in New Mexico with a page
All fatal crashes in New Mexico, with every road ranked.
Where the US 550 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 550 in New Mexico (filed under 3 spellings, such as "US-550", "US-550 MAIN ST", "US-550 N 1ST ST"). 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.