US 321 in North Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 88 fatal crashes on US 321 in North Carolina killed 92 people, the 18th most of 540 numbered roads in North Carolina. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 16 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 6 counties of North Carolina. All fatal crashes in North Carolina.
Deaths on US 321 in North Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 | 16 |
| 2023 | 9 | 9 |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 |
| 2021 | 11 | 13 |
| 2020 | 6 | 7 |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 |
| 2018 | 7 | 8 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 |
| 2015 | 14 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 321 in North Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Gaston County had the most fatal crashes on US 321 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 29 deaths. Gaston, Caldwell and Lincoln counties together held 75% of fatal crashes on US 321 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 99%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gaston County | 6 | 26 | 29 |
| 2 | Caldwell County | 5 | 26 | 27 |
| 3 | Lincoln County | 2 | 14 | 14 |
| 4 | Catawba County | 1 | 11 | 11 |
| 5 | Watauga County | 2 | 10 | 10 |
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 321 in North Carolina
88 fatal crashes on US 321 in 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 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is November.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 8.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.4%
- Feb3.4%
- Mar8.0%
- Apr5.7%
- May10.2%
- Jun10.2%
- Jul8.0%
- Aug8.0%
- Sep9.1%
- Oct12.5%
- Nov14.8%
- Dec6.8%
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 321 in North Carolina first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 43%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 26%, a pedestrian in 19%, a rollover in 8.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 38 | 43% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 23 | 26% |
| Pedestrian | 17 | 19% |
| Rollover | 7 | 8.0% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 2.3% |
| Other | 1 | 1.1% |
| 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 US 321 in North Carolina compare with the state
The largest difference from North Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 35% of occupants killed on US 321 in North Carolina were unbelted, against 47% 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 88 crashes.
| US 321 | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 64% | 57% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 14% | 19% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 27% | 34% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 25% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 26% | 32% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.8% | 6.3% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 35% | 47% | below the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.4% | 5.1% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 14% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 21% | 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 US 321 in North Carolina
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 321 in North Carolina?
- 88 fatal crashes killed 92 people on US 321 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 US 321 in North Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Gaston County had the most fatal crashes on US 321 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 29 deaths. Caldwell County was second with 26.
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 US 321 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 321 in North Carolina (filed under 12 spellings, such as "US-321", "US-321 BLOWING ROCK BLVD", "US-321 GASTONIA DALLAS HWY", "US-321 GASTONIA HWY"). 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.