Fatal crashes in Hamilton County, Tennessee
In 2024, 39 people died in 35 fatal crashes in Hamilton County, Tennessee, 23.5% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 406 fatal crashes and 440 deaths, the 4th most of 95 counties in Tennessee.
10.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 16.6 across Tennessee in 2024; 11.9 against 16.8 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 386,256, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Tennessee.
Deaths in Hamilton County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 35 | 39 |
| 2023 | 48 | 51 |
| 2022 | 45 | 47 |
| 2021 | 49 | 51 |
| 2020 | 38 | 45 |
| 2019 | 55 | 56 |
| 2018 | 42 | 43 |
| 2017 | 26 | 27 |
| 2016 | 33 | 39 |
| 2015 | 35 | 42 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Hamilton County
US 11 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Hamilton County from 2015 to 2024: 35, with 36 deaths. The 13 roads listed held 59% of all fatal crashes in Hamilton County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 3 US routes, 8 state highways. 62% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 38% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 11 | 35 | 36 | 8 | |
| 2 | I-24 | 34 | 39 | 14 | |
| 3 | I-75 | 30 | 36 | 11 | |
| 4 | US 27 | 28 | 29 | 11 | |
| 5 | State Highway 58 | 23 | 24 | 4 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 153 | 21 | 21 | 9 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 319 | 20 | 21 | 8 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 317 | 13 | 13 | 4 | no page |
| 9 | US 41 | 10 | 12 | 4 | |
| 10 | State Highway 312 | 7 | 9 | 5 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 27 | 7 | 7 | 2 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 111 | 5 | 5 | 1 | |
| 13 | State Highway 320 | 5 | 5 | 2 | no page |
Chattanooga had 61% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 249 of 406.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Chattanooga 249, Soddy Daisy 16, East Ridge 8. 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 Hamilton County
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 21 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.6 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 16 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.3 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 15 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.9 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.9%
- Feb7.1%
- Mar8.1%
- Apr10.1%
- May7.6%
- Jun7.9%
- Jul8.9%
- Aug6.7%
- Sep8.6%
- Oct10.6%
- Nov7.6%
- Dec7.9%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Hamilton County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 42%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 30%, a pedestrian in 15%, a rollover in 4.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 169 | 42% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 122 | 30% |
| Pedestrian | 62 | 15% |
| Rollover | 20 | 4.9% |
| Other | 20 | 4.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 7 | 1.7% |
| Cyclist | 6 | 1.5% |
| 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 Hamilton County compare with Tennessee
The largest difference from Tennessee: from 2015 to 2024, 7.9% of fatal crashes in Hamilton County were on rural roads, against 43% across Tennessee. Also above the Tennessee share: speeding and hit-and-runs. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Tennessee. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 406 crashes.
| Hamilton | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 7.9% | 43% | below the Tennessee share |
| At or near an intersection | 20% | 19% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 22% | 26% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| A drinking driver | 27% | 25% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Speeding | 27% | 17% | above the Tennessee share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.9% | 6.7% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 48% | 49% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Hit-and-run | 9.4% | 6.6% | above the Tennessee share |
| A motorcycle involved | 18% | 15% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 16% | 13% | about the same as the Tennessee 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 Hamilton County, Tennessee
- How many people died in car accidents in Hamilton County in 2024?
- 39 people died in 35 fatal crashes in Hamilton County, Tennessee, in 2024, 23.5% fewer than in 2023. That is 10.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 16.6 across Tennessee. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Hamilton County?
- US 11 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Hamilton County from 2015 to 2024: 35, with 36 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Hamilton County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 21 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Hamilton County involved a drinking driver?
- 108 of 406 fatal crashes in Hamilton County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 27%, against 25% across Tennessee.
Other counties in Tennessee with a page
- Shelby County
- Davidson County
- Knox County
- Rutherford County
- Montgomery County
- Wilson County
- Sullivan County
- Blount County
- Greene County
- Madison County
- Sevier County
- Williamson County
All fatal crashes in Tennessee, with every county ranked.
Where the Hamilton County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Hamilton County (county code 65). 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/tennessee/hamilton-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”