State Highway 3 in Virginia: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 71 fatal crashes on State Highway 3 in Virginia killed 74 people, the 16th most of 347 numbered roads in Virginia. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 7 deaths on the road.
A state highway running through 11 counties of Virginia. All fatal crashes in Virginia.
Deaths on State Highway 3 in Virginia by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | 8 | 9 |
| 2021 | 10 | 12 |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2017 | 7 | 7 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 3 in Virginia: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Spotsylvania County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 3 from 2015 to 2024: 19, with 21 deaths. Spotsylvania, King George and Westmoreland counties together held 59% of fatal crashes on State Highway 3 in Virginia from 2015 to 2024; the 6 listed held 80%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spotsylvania County | 1 | 19 | 21 |
| 2 | King George County | 2 | 17 | 17 |
| 3 | Westmoreland County | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 4 | Orange County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Richmond County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 6 | Fredericksburg city | 1 | 5 | 5 |
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 State Highway 3 in Virginia
71 fatal crashes on State Highway 3 in Virginia 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 1 am to 2 am; 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 | 5.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Sat | 5.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.6%
- Feb8.5%
- Mar7.0%
- Apr4.2%
- May8.5%
- Jun7.0%
- Jul8.5%
- Aug7.0%
- Sep11.3%
- Oct8.5%
- Nov12.7%
- Dec11.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on State Highway 3 in Virginia first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 49%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 30%, a pedestrian in 13%, a rollover in 5.6%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 35 | 49% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 21 | 30% |
| Pedestrian | 9 | 13% |
| Rollover | 4 | 5.6% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.4% |
| Other | 1 | 1.4% |
| 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 State Highway 3 in Virginia compare with the state
The largest difference from Virginia: from 2015 to 2024, 72% of fatal crashes on State Highway 3 in Virginia were on rural roads, against 55% across Virginia. Also above the Virginia share: unlit roads at night. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Virginia. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 71 crashes.
| State Highway 3 | Virginia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 72% | 55% | above the Virginia share |
| At or near an intersection | 28% | 23% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 42% | 31% | above the Virginia share |
| A drinking driver | 30% | 29% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| Speeding | 32% | 29% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 13% | 11% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 45% | 55% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.6% | 4.1% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| A motorcycle involved | 11% | 13% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 12% | 14% | about the same as the Virginia 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 State Highway 3 in Virginia
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 3 in Virginia?
- 71 fatal crashes killed 74 people on State Highway 3 in Virginia from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 7 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on State Highway 3 in Virginia do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Spotsylvania County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 3 from 2015 to 2024: 19, with 21 deaths. King George County was second with 17.
Other roads in Virginia with a page
All fatal crashes in Virginia, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 3 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as State Highway 3 in Virginia (filed under 25 spellings, such as "SR-3", "SR-3 GERMANNA HWY", "SR-3 GREYS POINT RD", "SR-3 KINGS HIGHWAY"). 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.