US 501 in Virginia: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 48 fatal crashes on US 501 in Virginia killed 52 people, the 28th most of 347 numbered roads in Virginia. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 9 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 7 counties of Virginia. All fatal crashes in Virginia.
Deaths on US 501 in Virginia by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 9 |
| 2023 | 7 | 8 |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 | 5 |
| 2017 | 7 | 7 |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 |
| 2015 | 5 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 501 in Virginia: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Campbell County had the most fatal crashes on US 501 from 2015 to 2024: 20, with 21 deaths. Campbell, Halifax and Lynchburg city together held 79% of fatal crashes on US 501 in Virginia from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Campbell County | 5 | 20 | 21 |
| 2 | Halifax County | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| 3 | Lynchburg city | 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 501 in Virginia
48 fatal crashes on US 501 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 3 pm to 4 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 | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan10.4%
- Feb8.3%
- Mar6.2%
- Apr8.3%
- May2.1%
- Jun10.4%
- Jul8.3%
- Aug10.4%
- Sep8.3%
- Oct14.6%
- Nov6.2%
- Dec6.2%
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 501 in Virginia first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 48%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 31%, a pedestrian in 13%, a rollover in 4.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 23 | 48% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 15 | 31% |
| Pedestrian | 6 | 13% |
| Rollover | 2 | 4.2% |
| Other | 2 | 4.2% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 501 in Virginia compare with the state
The largest difference from Virginia: from 2015 to 2024, 77% of fatal crashes on US 501 in Virginia were on rural roads, against 55% across Virginia. 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 48 crashes.
| US 501 | Virginia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 77% | 55% | above the Virginia share |
| At or near an intersection | 13% | 23% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 33% | 31% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| A drinking driver | 35% | 29% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| Speeding | 25% | 29% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 10% | 11% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 44% | 55% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.1% | 4.1% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| A motorcycle involved | 10% | 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 US 501 in Virginia
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 501 in Virginia?
- 48 fatal crashes killed 52 people on US 501 in Virginia from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 9 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 501 in Virginia do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Campbell County had the most fatal crashes on US 501 from 2015 to 2024: 20, with 21 deaths. Halifax County was second with 12.
Other roads in Virginia with a page
All fatal crashes in Virginia, with every road ranked.
Where the US 501 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 501 in Virginia (filed under 5 spellings, such as "US-501", "US-501 BROOKNEAL HWY", "US-501 L P BAILEY MEMORIAL HWY", "US-501 LEE JACKSON HWY"). 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.