State Highway 87 in North Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 120 fatal crashes on State Highway 87 in North Carolina killed 128 people, the 14th most of 540 numbered roads in North Carolina. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 16 deaths on the road.
A state highway running through 11 counties of North Carolina. All fatal crashes in North Carolina.
Deaths on State Highway 87 in North Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 | 16 |
| 2023 | 16 | 16 |
| 2022 | 11 | 12 |
| 2021 | 18 | 19 |
| 2020 | 15 | 17 |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 |
| 2018 | 7 | 8 |
| 2017 | 16 | 17 |
| 2016 | 12 | 14 |
| 2015 | 2 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 87 in North Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Alamance County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 87 from 2015 to 2024: 23, with 25 deaths. Alamance, Cumberland and Bladen counties together held 50% of fatal crashes on State Highway 87 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024; the 9 listed held 98%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alamance County | 3 | 23 | 25 |
| 2 | Cumberland County | 3 | 20 | 20 |
| 3 | Bladen County | 0 | 17 | 18 |
| 4 | Harnett County | 4 | 16 | 18 |
| 5 | Columbus County | 1 | 12 | 14 |
| 6 | Lee County | 2 | 12 | 12 |
| 7 | Brunswick County | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| 8 | Chatham County | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| 9 | Rockingham County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
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 State Highway 87 in North Carolina
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 10 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 6 am to 7 am; the worst month is April.
| 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 | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 8.3 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.3%
- Feb2.5%
- Mar6.7%
- Apr12.5%
- May11.7%
- Jun11.7%
- Jul9.2%
- Aug8.3%
- Sep11.7%
- Oct8.3%
- Nov10.0%
- Dec4.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on State Highway 87 in North Carolina first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 63%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 23%, a pedestrian in 8.3%, a rollover in 3.3%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 75 | 63% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 27 | 23% |
| Pedestrian | 10 | 8.3% |
| Rollover | 4 | 3.3% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 1.7% |
| Other | 2 | 1.7% |
| 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 State Highway 87 in North Carolina compare with the state
The largest difference from North Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 75% of fatal crashes on State Highway 87 in North Carolina were on rural roads, against 57% across North Carolina. Also above the North Carolina share: intersections. Below it: unbelted occupants. 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 120 crashes.
| State Highway 87 | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 75% | 57% | above the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 19% | above the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 40% | 34% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 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) | 5.0% | 6.3% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 37% | 47% | below the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.3% | 5.1% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 11% | 14% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 8.6% | 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 State Highway 87 in North Carolina
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 87 in North Carolina?
- 120 fatal crashes killed 128 people on State Highway 87 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 State Highway 87 in North Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Alamance County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 87 from 2015 to 2024: 23, with 25 deaths. Cumberland County was second with 20.
- When do fatal crashes on State Highway 87 in North Carolina happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 10 fatal crashes.
Other roads in North Carolina with a page
- I-40
- I-485
- 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
All fatal crashes in North Carolina, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 87 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as State Highway 87 in North Carolina (filed under 17 spellings, such as "SR-87", "SR-87 BARNES RD", "SR-87 E WEBB AVE", "SR-87 GEORGE II"). 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.