I-485 in North Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 97 fatal crashes on I-485 in North Carolina killed 109 people, the 16th most of 540 numbered roads in North Carolina. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 16 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 1 county of North Carolina. All fatal crashes in North Carolina.
Deaths on I-485 in North Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 | 16 |
| 2023 | 10 | 10 |
| 2022 | 13 | 16 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 |
| 2020 | 10 | 15 |
| 2019 | 8 | 8 |
| 2018 | 10 | 13 |
| 2017 | 13 | 13 |
| 2016 | 4 | 5 |
| 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 I-485 in North Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Mecklenburg County had the most fatal crashes on I-485 from 2015 to 2024: 97, with 109 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mecklenburg County | 16 | 97 | 109 |
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-485 in North Carolina
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 11 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 3 am to 4 am; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 11.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 5.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.2%
- Feb7.2%
- Mar6.2%
- Apr6.2%
- May16.5%
- Jun11.3%
- Jul8.2%
- Aug6.2%
- Sep6.2%
- Oct6.2%
- Nov12.4%
- Dec7.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on I-485 in North Carolina first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 45%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 34%, a pedestrian in 13%, a rollover in 4.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 44 | 45% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 33 | 34% |
| Pedestrian | 13 | 13% |
| Rollover | 4 | 4.1% |
| Other | 2 | 2.1% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.0% |
| 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 I-485 in North Carolina compare with the state
The largest difference from North Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 5.2% of fatal crashes on I-485 in North Carolina were on rural roads, against 57% across North Carolina. Also above the North Carolina share: unlit roads at night. Below it: intersections. 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 97 crashes.
| I-485 | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 5.2% | 57% | below the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 1.0% | 19% | below the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 44% | 34% | above the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 32% | 25% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 37% | 32% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.1% | 6.3% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 42% | 47% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.1% | 5.1% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 9.3% | 14% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 17% | 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 on I-485 in North Carolina
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-485 in North Carolina?
- 97 fatal crashes killed 109 people on I-485 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 16 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on I-485 in North Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Mecklenburg County had the most fatal crashes on I-485 from 2015 to 2024: 97, with 109 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes on I-485 in North Carolina happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 11 fatal crashes.
Other roads in North Carolina with a page
- I-40
- I-73
- I-77
- I-85
- I-95
- State Highway 11
- State Highway 130
- State Highway 150
- State Highway 16
- State Highway 210
- State Highway 211
- State Highway 24
All fatal crashes in North Carolina, with every road ranked.
Where the I-485 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-485 in North Carolina (filed under 6 spellings, such as "I-485", "I-485 INNER HWY", "I-485 INNER HY", "I-485 N"). 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.