I-81 in New York: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 59 fatal crashes on I-81 in New York killed 64 people, the 14th most of 456 numbered roads in New York. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 5 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 5 counties of New York. All fatal crashes in New York. I-81 in every state.
Deaths on I-81 in New York by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 5 |
| 2023 | 8 | 8 |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | 8 | 11 |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 |
| 2015 | 9 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-81 in New York: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Onondaga County had the most fatal crashes on I-81 from 2015 to 2024: 21, with 21 deaths. Onondaga, Cortland and Broome counties together held 78% of fatal crashes on I-81 in New York from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Onondaga County | 1 | 21 | 21 |
| 2 | Cortland County | 2 | 14 | 15 |
| 3 | Broome County | 1 | 11 | 11 |
| 4 | Oswego County | 1 | 7 | 11 |
| 5 | Jefferson County | 0 | 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 I-81 in New York
59 fatal crashes on I-81 in New York 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 6 pm to 7 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 6.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Sat | 8.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.8%
- Feb1.7%
- Mar5.1%
- Apr11.9%
- May8.5%
- Jun6.8%
- Jul13.6%
- Aug22.0%
- Sep8.5%
- Oct3.4%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec3.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Fatal crashes per mile on I-81 in New York
3.2 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 184 miles of I-81 in New York, against 3.7 for all interstates in New York. That ranks 4 of 5 interstates in New York and 159 of 172 interstate pages on this site.
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS. Crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic.
What fatal crashes on I-81 in New York first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in most fatal crashes, 53%; a collision with another vehicle in 24%, a pedestrian in 10%, a rollover in 6.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 31 | 53% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 14 | 24% |
| Pedestrian | 6 | 10% |
| Rollover | 4 | 6.8% |
| Other | 4 | 6.8% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 I-81 in New York compare with the state
The largest difference from New York: from 2015 to 2024, 0.0% of fatal crashes on I-81 in New York were at or near an intersection, against 34% across New York. Also above the New York share: rural roads, unlit roads at night and drinking drivers. Below it: pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of New York. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 59 crashes.
| I-81 | New York | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 53% | 30% | above the New York share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.0% | 34% | below the New York share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 41% | 17% | above the New York share |
| A drinking driver | 34% | 20% | above the New York share |
| Speeding | 34% | 31% | about the same as the New York share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.5% | 12% | about the same as the New York share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 40% | 37% | about the same as the New York share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.1% | 8.2% | about the same as the New York share |
| A motorcycle involved | 19% | 18% | about the same as the New York share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 26% | below the New York 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 I-81 in New York
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-81 in New York?
- 59 fatal crashes killed 64 people on I-81 in New York from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 5 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on I-81 in New York do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Onondaga County had the most fatal crashes on I-81 from 2015 to 2024: 21, with 21 deaths. Cortland County was second with 14.
- How dangerous is I-81 in New York per mile?
- 3.2 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 184 miles of road, against 3.7 for all interstates in New York. That ranks 4 of 5 interstates in New York and 159 of 172 interstate pages on this site. FARS records crashes, not traffic, so this is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle.
Other roads in New York with a page
- I-278
- I-495
- I-84
- I-87
- I-90
- I-95
- State Highway 104
- State Highway 22
- State Highway 23
- State Highway 24
- State Highway 25
- State Highway 25A
All fatal crashes in New York, with every road ranked.
Where the I-81 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-81 in New York. 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.