Fatal crashes in Ward County, North Dakota
In 2024, 2 people died in 2 fatal crashes in Ward County, North Dakota, down from 10 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 55 fatal crashes and 62 deaths, the 5th most of 53 counties in North Dakota.
Deaths in Ward County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 | 8 | 10 |
| 2022 | 5 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 |
| 2020 | 8 | 8 |
| 2019 | 4 | 6 |
| 2018 | 6 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 | 7 |
| 2016 | 5 | 6 |
| 2015 | 8 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Ward County
US 83 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Ward County from 2015 to 2024: 12, with 13 deaths. The 2 roads listed held 33% of all fatal crashes in Ward County from 2015 to 2024; 2 US routes. 49% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 51% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 83 | 12 | 13 | 4 | no page |
| 2 | US 52 | 6 | 6 | 2 | no page |
Minot had 18% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 10 of 55.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Minot 10. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Ward County
54 fatal crashes in Ward County, North Dakota 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 4 pm to 5 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 | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 7.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 9.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 9.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan1.8%
- Feb7.3%
- Mar7.3%
- Apr5.5%
- May9.1%
- Jun16.4%
- Jul7.3%
- Aug18.2%
- Sep5.5%
- Oct5.5%
- Nov12.7%
- Dec3.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Ward County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 44%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 22%, a rollover in 11%, a pedestrian in 9.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 24 | 44% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 12 | 22% |
| Rollover | 6 | 11% |
| Other | 6 | 11% |
| Pedestrian | 5 | 9.1% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.8% |
| 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 in Ward County compare with North Dakota
The largest difference from North Dakota: from 2015 to 2024, 26% of fatal crashes in Ward County were with a drinking driver, against 40% across North Dakota. Also above the North Dakota share: intersections and motorcycles. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of North Dakota. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 55 crashes.
| Ward | North Dakota | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 80% | 85% | about the same as the North Dakota share |
| At or near an intersection | 35% | 23% | above the North Dakota share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 24% | 29% | about the same as the North Dakota share |
| A drinking driver | 26% | 40% | below the North Dakota share |
| Speeding | 29% | 27% | about the same as the North Dakota share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.3% | 6.3% | about the same as the North Dakota share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 50% | 62% | about the same as the North Dakota share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.8% | 2.7% | about the same as the North Dakota share |
| A motorcycle involved | 24% | 14% | above the North Dakota share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 8.1% | 6.5% | about the same as the North Dakota 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 in Ward County, North Dakota
- How many people died in car accidents in Ward County in 2024?
- 2 people died in 2 fatal crashes in Ward County, North Dakota, in 2024, down from 10 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Ward County?
- US 83 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Ward County from 2015 to 2024: 12, with 13 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Ward County involved a drinking driver?
- 14 of 55 fatal crashes in Ward County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 26%, against 40% across North Dakota.
Other counties in North Dakota with a page
- Cass County
- Williams County
- McKenzie County
- Burleigh County
- Grand Forks County
- Morton County
- Rolette County
- Mountrail County
- Stark County
- Benson County
- Stutsman County
All fatal crashes in North Dakota, with every county ranked.
Where the Ward County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Ward County (county code 101). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/north-dakota/ward-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”