Fatal crashes in North Dakota
In 2024, 90 people died in 84 fatal crashes on North Dakota roads, 15.1% fewer than in 2023. That is 0.2% of all road deaths in the United States.
North Dakota ranks 47th of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and 29th by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in North Dakota since 1975
Road deaths in North Dakota peaked in 1976 at 182; 2024's 90 is 51% below that. The lowest year was 1995 with 74. 2024 is 5% above 2000 and 46% below 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 90 | 84 | -15.1% |
| 2023 | 106 | 96 | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 98 | 96 | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 101 | 85 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 100 | 96 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 100 | 91 | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 105 | 95 | -9.5% |
| 2017 | 116 | 106 | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 113 | 102 | -13.7% |
| 2015 | 131 | 111 | -3.0% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 135 | 121 | -8.8% |
| 2013 | 148 | 133 | -12.9% |
| 2012 | 170 | 147 | +14.9% |
| 2011 | 148 | 130 | +41.0% |
| 2010 | 105 | 92 | -25.0% |
| 2009 | 140 | 116 | +34.6% |
| 2008 | 104 | 97 | -6.3% |
| 2007 | 111 | 95 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 111 | 101 | -9.8% |
| 2005 | 123 | 105 | +23.0% |
| 2004 | 100 | 95 | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 105 | 95 | +8.2% |
| 2002 | 97 | 84 | -7.6% |
| 2001 | 105 | 96 | +22.1% |
| 2000 | 86 | 80 | -27.7% |
| 1999 | 119 | 92 | +29.3% |
| 1998 | 92 | 79 | -12.4% |
| 1997 | 105 | 89 | +23.5% |
| 1996 | 85 | 80 | +14.9% |
| 1995 | 74 | 65 | -15.9% |
| 1994 | 88 | 76 | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 89 | 81 | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 88 | 79 | -6.4% |
| 1991 | 94 | 86 | -16.1% |
| 1990 | 112 | 104 | +38.3% |
| 1989 | 81 | 76 | -22.1% |
| 1988 | 104 | 92 | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 101 | 90 | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 100 | 88 | +11.1% |
| 1985 | 90 | 77 | -10.0% |
| 1984 | 100 | 88 | -13.8% |
| 1983 | 116 | 105 | -21.6% |
| 1982 | 148 | 128 | -11.4% |
| 1981 | 167 | 154 | +10.6% |
| 1980 | 151 | 133 | +18.0% |
| 1979 | 128 | 114 | -29.3% |
| 1978 | 181 | 148 | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 175 | 150 | -3.8% |
| 1976 | 182 | 151 | +9.0% |
| 1975 | 167 | 137 | No data |
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads and most dangerous highways in North Dakota
I-94 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in North Dakota from 2015 to 2024: 69, with 73 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 39% of all fatal crashes in North Dakota from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 6 US routes, 12 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (0 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in North Dakota, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-94 | 69 | 73 | 21 | Stark, Morton, Cass |
| 2 | US 2 | 48 | 59 | 6 | Williams, Grand Forks, Mountrail |
| 3 | US 83 | 29 | 33 | 9 | Ward, McLean, Burleigh |
| 4 | I-29 | 28 | 33 | 7 | Cass, Grand Forks, Richland |
| 5 | State Highway 1804 | 25 | 28 | 7 | Williams, Burleigh, Mountrail |
| 6 | State Highway 23 | 24 | 32 | 8 | McKenzie, Mountrail, Ward |
| 7 | US 85 | 22 | 27 | 4 | McKenzie, Williams, Billings |
| 8 | US 281 | 20 | 21 | 7 | Rolette, Towner, LaMoure |
| 9 | State Highway 22 | 18 | 18 | 2 | Dunn, McKenzie, Stark |
| 10 | US 52 | 16 | 18 | 3 | Ward, McHenry, Stutsman |
| 11 | State Highway 1806 | 15 | 17 | 4 | Morton, McKenzie, Sioux |
| 12 | State Highway 200 | 12 | 14 | 2 | McKenzie, Dunn, Mercer |
| 13 | State Highway 1 | 8 | 8 | 4 | Barnes, Nelson, Dickey |
| 14 | State Highway 20 | 8 | 8 | 0 | Stutsman, Ramsey, Benson |
| 15 | State Highway 8 | 7 | 7 | 1 | Mountrail, Adams, Burke |
| 16 | US 81 | 7 | 7 | 3 | Walsh, Cass, Grand Forks |
| 17 | State Highway 32 | 6 | 6 | 2 | Ransom, Walsh, Barnes |
| 18 | State Highway 5 | 5 | 7 | 0 | Bottineau, Divide, Cavalier |
| 19 | State Highway 57 | 5 | 7 | 4 | Benson |
| 20 | State Highway 13 | 5 | 6 | 3 | Sargent, Richland, Logan |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every numbered road in North Dakota as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/north-dakota/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in North Dakota
Cass County had the most fatal crashes in North Dakota from 2015 to 2024: 82, with 88 deaths. Cass, Williams and McKenzie counties together held 22% of fatal crashes in North Dakota from 2015 to 2024; the 20 listed held 80%. 53 counties in North Dakota recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed, with deaths per 100,000 residents where the county had 10 or more deaths in 2024.
Per resident, McKenzie County has the highest rate in North Dakota: 57.1 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 13.8 for the state as a whole. Counties with fewer than 10,000 residents are hatched rather than shaded: a few crashes on a highway through a small county make a rate that says more about its population than its roads.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | Deaths per 100,000100K, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cass County | 7 | 82 | 88 | Not enough data |
| 2 | Williams County | 7 | 67 | 77 | Not enough data |
| 3 | McKenzie County | 5 | 66 | 79 | Not enough data |
| 4 | Burleigh County | 8 | 59 | 60 | Not enough data |
| 5 | Ward County | 2 | 55 | 62 | Not enough data |
| 6 | Grand Forks County | 2 | 52 | 62 | Not enough data |
| 7 | Morton County | 6 | 52 | 56 | Not enough data |
| 8 | Rolette County | 3 | 41 | 48 | Not enough data |
| 9 | Mountrail County | 3 | 40 | 49 | Not enough data |
| 10 | Stark County | 1 | 37 | 37 | Not enough data |
| 11 | Benson County | 5 | 31 | 35 | Not enough data |
| 12 | Stutsman County | 1 | 30 | 31 | Not enough data |
| 13 | McLean County | 3 | 25 | 27 | Not enough data |
| 14 | Richland County | 1 | 24 | 31 | Not enough data |
| 15 | Walsh County | 1 | 21 | 23 | Not enough data |
| 16 | Barnes County | 2 | 20 | 21 | Not enough data |
| 17 | Dunn County | 2 | 18 | 18 | Not enough data |
| 18 | McHenry County | 1 | 16 | 18 | Not enough data |
| 19 | Sioux County | 1 | 16 | 17 | Not enough data |
| 20 | Bottineau County | 0 | 15 | 15 | Not enough data |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/north-dakota/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in North Dakota
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 49 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.2 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 28 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 25 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 27 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.8 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 35 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 49 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.9%
- Feb3.5%
- Mar6.3%
- Apr6.4%
- May9.1%
- Jun10.5%
- Jul12.7%
- Aug12.3%
- Sep11.5%
- Oct9.3%
- Nov7.2%
- Dec5.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in North Dakota: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
85% of fatal crashes in North Dakota from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, above the US share of 43%; 23% happened at or near an intersection, below the US share of 25%; 29% in the dark on unlit roads, above the US share of 28%; most, 55%, in daylight. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| North Dakota | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 85% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 23% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 55% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 8.4% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 28% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on North Dakota roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 74% of the 90 people killed on North Dakota roads in 2024; motorcyclists 19% (17), pedestrians 5.6% (5), cyclists 1.1% (1).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 67 | 74% |
| Motorcyclists | 17 | 19% |
| Pedestrians | 5 | 5.6% |
| Cyclists | 1 | 1.1% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 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 happen in North Dakota: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 40% of fatal crashes in North Dakota from 2015 to 2024, above the US share of 26%; speeding in 27%, about the US share; a hit-and-run in 2.7%, below the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 6.3%, below the US share of 8.7%; 62% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above the US share of 49%.
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (624 in North Dakota).
| North Dakota | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 40% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 27% | 27% | about the same as the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.3% | 8.7% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 62% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.7% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 16% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 42%; a rollover in 25%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 18%, a pedestrian in 6.7%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 400 | 42% |
| Rollover | 241 | 25% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 168 | 18% |
| Other | 66 | 6.9% |
| Pedestrian | 64 | 6.7% |
| Cyclist | 13 | 1.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 6 | 0.6% |
| Not reported | 4 | 0.4% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in North Dakota
Pickups were 28% of the 1,353 vehicles in fatal crashes in North Dakota from 2015 to 2024, cars 22%, SUVs 18%, truck-tractors 12%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pickups | 378 | 28% |
| Cars | 301 | 22% |
| SUVs | 239 | 18% |
| Truck-tractors | 166 | 12% |
| Motorcycles | 139 | 10% |
| Other trucks | 82 | 6.1% |
| Vans | 43 | 3.2% |
| Buses | 5 | 0.4% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in North Dakota per resident and per mile driven
| North Dakota | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 11.3 | 11.5 | about the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 13.8 | 11.8 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 0.90 | 1.19 | below the US rate |
Population 796,568 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 10,030 million vehicle-miles (FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, table VM-2). The only figures on this page not counted from FARS.
Questions about fatal crashes in North Dakota
- How many people died in car accidents in North Dakota in 2024?
- 90 people died in 84 fatal crashes on North Dakota roads in 2024, 15.1% fewer than in 2023. That is 11.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.5 across the United States. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in North Dakota?
- I-94 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in North Dakota from 2015 to 2024: 69, with 73 deaths. US 2 was second with 48.
- Which county in North Dakota has the most fatal crashes?
- Cass County, with 82 fatal crashes and 88 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 7 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in North Dakota happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 49 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in North Dakota involved a drinking driver?
- 382 of 962 fatal crashes in North Dakota from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 40%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for North Dakota
Every county in North Dakota with 30 or more fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, roads, hour and weekday, and deaths per 100,000 residents.
Road pages for North Dakota
Every numbered road in North Dakota with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the North Dakota numbers come from
Every figure on this page except the rates is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I-35", "I 35" and "I-35/PURPLE HEART TRL" are the same road); frontage roads and ramps ("I35 FRONTAGE") are left out of road counts. Totals from the state highway department and news reports can differ by a few: they count from the state's own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked and revised once a year. Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". Rates per resident and per mile use Census Bureau population estimates and FHWA vehicle-miles, the only figures not counted from FARS. The full method.