US 52 in North Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 82 fatal crashes on US 52 in North Carolina killed 91 people, the 23rd most of 540 numbered roads in North Carolina. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 6 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 7 counties of North Carolina. All fatal crashes in North Carolina.
Deaths on US 52 in North Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 6 |
| 2023 | 9 | 12 |
| 2022 | 10 | 11 |
| 2021 | 8 | 8 |
| 2020 | 6 | 8 |
| 2019 | 6 | 8 |
| 2018 | 8 | 8 |
| 2017 | 7 | 7 |
| 2016 | 14 | 14 |
| 2015 | 8 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 52 in North Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Forsyth County had the most fatal crashes on US 52 from 2015 to 2024: 23, with 28 deaths. Forsyth, Surry and Stanly counties together held 70% of fatal crashes on US 52 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024; the 6 listed held 96%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forsyth County | 1 | 23 | 28 |
| 2 | Surry County | 1 | 18 | 18 |
| 3 | Stanly County | 1 | 16 | 17 |
| 4 | Anson County | 1 | 9 | 10 |
| 5 | Rowan County | 2 | 7 | 7 |
| 6 | Stokes County | 0 | 6 | 7 |
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 52 in North Carolina
82 fatal crashes on US 52 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 noon to 1 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 | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 7.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.3%
- Feb8.5%
- Mar8.5%
- Apr8.5%
- May6.1%
- Jun8.5%
- Jul9.8%
- Aug13.4%
- Sep3.7%
- Oct7.3%
- Nov12.2%
- Dec6.1%
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 52 in North Carolina first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 52%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 22%, a pedestrian in 18%, a rollover in 4.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 43 | 52% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 18 | 22% |
| Pedestrian | 15 | 18% |
| Rollover | 4 | 4.9% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.2% |
| Other | 1 | 1.2% |
| 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 52 in North Carolina compare with the state
The largest difference from North Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 44% of fatal crashes on US 52 in North Carolina were on rural roads, against 57% across North Carolina. Also above the North Carolina share: unlit roads at night. 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 82 crashes.
| US 52 | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 44% | 57% | below the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 16% | 19% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 46% | 34% | above the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 23% | 25% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 24% | 32% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.3% | 6.3% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 35% | 47% | below the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.3% | 5.1% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 13% | 14% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 19% | 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 52 in North Carolina
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 52 in North Carolina?
- 82 fatal crashes killed 91 people on US 52 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 6 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 52 in North Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Forsyth County had the most fatal crashes on US 52 from 2015 to 2024: 23, with 28 deaths. Surry County was second with 18.
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 52 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 52 in North Carolina (filed under 10 spellings, such as "US-52", "US-52 E INNEST ST", "US-52 N ANY GRIFFITH PKWY", "US-52 N PILOT MOUNTAIN PKWY"). 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.