Fatal crashes in Cherokee County, North Carolina
In 2024, 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Cherokee County, North Carolina, down from 5 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 53 fatal crashes and 58 deaths, the 74th most of 100 counties in North Carolina.
Deaths in Cherokee County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 |
| 2020 | 4 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 |
| 2017 | 8 | 11 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 |
| 2015 | 4 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Cherokee County
US 19 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Cherokee County from 2015 to 2024: 15, with 17 deaths. The 2 roads listed held 45% of all fatal crashes in Cherokee County from 2015 to 2024; 2 US routes. 60% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 40% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Murphy 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 Cherokee County
53 fatal crashes in Cherokee County, North Carolina 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 noon to 1 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 | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 9.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.5%
- Feb7.5%
- Mar7.5%
- Apr5.7%
- May11.3%
- Jun7.5%
- Jul3.8%
- Aug7.5%
- Sep15.1%
- Oct7.5%
- Nov5.7%
- Dec13.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Cherokee County first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 38%; a collision with another vehicle in 36%, a pedestrian in 13%, a rollover in 7.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 20 | 38% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 19 | 36% |
| Pedestrian | 7 | 13% |
| Rollover | 4 | 7.5% |
| Other | 3 | 5.7% |
| 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 in Cherokee County compare with North Carolina
The largest difference from North Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 93% of fatal crashes in Cherokee County were on rural roads, against 57% across North Carolina. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of North Carolina. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 53 crashes.
| Cherokee | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 93% | 57% | above the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 19% | 19% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 34% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 26% | 25% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 25% | 32% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 1.9% | 6.3% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 50% | 47% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.9% | 5.1% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 7.5% | 14% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 12% | 15% | about the same as the North Carolina 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 Cherokee County, North Carolina
- How many people died in car accidents in Cherokee County in 2024?
- 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Cherokee County, North Carolina, in 2024, down from 5 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Cherokee County?
- US 19 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Cherokee County from 2015 to 2024: 15, with 17 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Cherokee County involved a drinking driver?
- 14 of 53 fatal crashes in Cherokee County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 26%, against 25% across North Carolina.
Other counties in North Carolina with a page
- Mecklenburg County
- Wake County
- Guilford County
- Robeson County
- Cumberland County
- Forsyth County
- Buncombe County
- Johnston County
- Durham County
- Davidson County
- Gaston County
- Harnett County
All fatal crashes in North Carolina, with every county ranked.
Where the Cherokee County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Cherokee County (county code 39). 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/north-carolina/cherokee-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”