Fatal crashes in West Virginia
In 2024, 256 people died in 238 fatal crashes on West Virginia roads, 1.5% fewer than in 2023. That is about 1 death a day, and 0.7% of all road deaths in the United States.
West Virginia ranks 37th of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and 16th by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in West Virginia since 1975
Road deaths in West Virginia peaked in 1980 at 523; 2024's 256 is 51% below that. 2024 is 38% below 2000 and 44% below 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 256 | 238 | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 260 | 233 | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 266 | 250 | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 282 | 259 | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 267 | 249 | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 260 | 247 | -11.6% |
| 2018 | 294 | 265 | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 304 | 280 | +13.0% |
| 2016 | 269 | 250 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 268 | 246 | -1.5% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 272 | 242 | -18.1% |
| 2013 | 332 | 305 | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 339 | 318 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 338 | 320 | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 315 | 282 | -11.8% |
| 2009 | 357 | 325 | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 378 | 337 | -12.5% |
| 2007 | 432 | 387 | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 410 | 372 | +9.6% |
| 2005 | 374 | 347 | -8.8% |
| 2004 | 410 | 380 | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 394 | 362 | -10.3% |
| 2002 | 439 | 400 | +16.8% |
| 2001 | 376 | 355 | -8.5% |
| 2000 | 411 | 354 | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 395 | 354 | +11.6% |
| 1998 | 354 | 330 | -7.1% |
| 1997 | 381 | 343 | +9.5% |
| 1996 | 348 | 321 | -7.4% |
| 1995 | 376 | 346 | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 356 | 330 | -17.0% |
| 1993 | 429 | 370 | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 420 | 366 | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 414 | 371 | -13.9% |
| 1990 | 481 | 407 | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 468 | 406 | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 460 | 405 | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 471 | 418 | +7.0% |
| 1986 | 440 | 386 | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 420 | 368 | -4.1% |
| 1984 | 438 | 387 | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 425 | 379 | -5.6% |
| 1982 | 450 | 392 | +9.8% |
| 1981 | 410 | 354 | -21.6% |
| 1980 | 523 | 464 | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 512 | 446 | +12.0% |
| 1978 | 457 | 402 | -11.1% |
| 1977 | 514 | 450 | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 489 | 425 | +6.1% |
| 1975 | 461 | 401 | 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 West Virginia
US 60 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in West Virginia from 2015 to 2024: 101, with 107 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 46% of all fatal crashes in West Virginia from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 7 US routes, 9 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 West Virginia, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 60 | 101 | 107 | 36 | Kanawha, Cabell, Greenbrier |
| 2 | I-77 | 94 | 114 | 27 | Kanawha, Raleigh, Mercer |
| 3 | I-79 | 92 | 106 | 21 | Braxton, Monongalia, Kanawha |
| 4 | US 50 | 87 | 100 | 22 | Hampshire, Harrison, Wood |
| 5 | US 119 | 87 | 91 | 30 | Kanawha, Monongalia, Boone |
| 6 | I-64 | 78 | 86 | 18 | Cabell, Greenbrier, Putnam |
| 7 | State Highway 2 | 76 | 80 | 22 | Cabell, Mason, Marshall |
| 8 | US 19 | 74 | 87 | 23 | Raleigh, Nicholas, Fayette |
| 9 | State Highway 16 | 57 | 61 | 17 | Raleigh, Fayette, McDowell |
| 10 | US 33 | 57 | 61 | 10 | Randolph, Upshur, Lewis |
| 11 | State Highway 10 | 49 | 50 | 19 | Logan, Lincoln, Cabell |
| 12 | US 52 | 46 | 48 | 13 | Wayne, McDowell, Mingo |
| 13 | US 219 | 45 | 50 | 10 | Randolph, Greenbrier, Monroe |
| 14 | State Highway 20 | 45 | 48 | 20 | Harrison, Mercer, Webster |
| 15 | State Highway 3 | 36 | 40 | 15 | Raleigh, Summers, Lincoln |
| 16 | I-81 | 32 | 38 | 6 | Berkeley, Monongalia |
| 17 | State Highway 9 | 32 | 33 | 9 | Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan |
| 18 | State Highway 152 | 26 | 32 | 3 | Wayne, Cabell |
| 19 | State Highway 62 | 25 | 26 | 6 | Mason, Jackson, Putnam |
| 20 | State Highway 28 | 23 | 26 | 7 | Mineral, Hampshire, Grant |
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 West Virginia as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/west-virginia/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in West Virginia
Kanawha County had the most fatal crashes in West Virginia from 2015 to 2024: 248, with 268 deaths. Kanawha, Berkeley and Raleigh counties together held 20% of fatal crashes in West Virginia from 2015 to 2024; the 20 listed held 66%. 55 counties in West Virginia 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, Hardy County has the highest rate in West Virginia: 29.9 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 15.2 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 | Kanawha County | 27 | 248 | 268 | 16.1 |
| 2 | Berkeley County | 19 | 136 | 147 | 15.4 |
| 3 | Raleigh County | 18 | 120 | 137 | 31.8 |
| 4 | Cabell County | 7 | 112 | 117 | Not enough data |
| 5 | Monongalia County | 14 | 98 | 107 | 13.8 |
| 6 | Wood County | 14 | 98 | 100 | 16.9 |
| 7 | Mercer County | 6 | 90 | 101 | Not enough data |
| 8 | Wayne County | 5 | 77 | 86 | Not enough data |
| 9 | Jefferson County | 9 | 69 | 79 | 18.0 |
| 10 | Logan County | 5 | 63 | 67 | Not enough data |
| 11 | Harrison County | 7 | 60 | 72 | Not enough data |
| 12 | Nicholas County | 6 | 59 | 63 | Not enough data |
| 13 | Greenbrier County | 5 | 58 | 63 | Not enough data |
| 14 | Fayette County | 2 | 58 | 62 | Not enough data |
| 15 | Putnam County | 4 | 58 | 62 | Not enough data |
| 16 | Hampshire County | 5 | 57 | 65 | Not enough data |
| 17 | Jackson County | 1 | 57 | 60 | Not enough data |
| 18 | Preston County | 2 | 46 | 50 | Not enough data |
| 19 | Mason County | 3 | 46 | 46 | Not enough data |
| 20 | Randolph County | 4 | 45 | 50 | 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/west-virginia/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in West Virginia
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 4 to 8 pm, with 108 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 pm to 3 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 | 2.8 percent, 70 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 31 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 37 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 71 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 84 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 47 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.8 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 46 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 56 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 71 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 80 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 47 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.5 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 54 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 97 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 77 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 51 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.0 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 54 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 83 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 95 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 59 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.2 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 44 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 62 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 89 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 92 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 53 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.4 percent, 36 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 45 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 57 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 84 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 96 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 68 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.1 percent, 77 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 68 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 108 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 85 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.2%
- Feb5.7%
- Mar7.4%
- Apr8.1%
- May8.3%
- Jun8.8%
- Jul9.3%
- Aug10.6%
- Sep8.7%
- Oct9.7%
- Nov7.9%
- Dec8.3%
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 West Virginia: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
64% of fatal crashes in West Virginia from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, above the US share of 43%; 12% happened at or near an intersection, below the US share of 25%; 32% in the dark on unlit roads, above the US share of 28%; most, 58%, in daylight. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| West Virginia | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 64% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 12% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 58% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 6.1% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 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 West Virginia roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 73% of the 256 people killed on West Virginia roads in 2024; motorcyclists 15% (38), pedestrians 9.8% (25), cyclists 2.0% (5).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 188 | 73% |
| Motorcyclists | 38 | 15% |
| Pedestrians | 25 | 9.8% |
| Cyclists | 5 | 2.0% |
| 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 West Virginia: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 27% of fatal crashes in West Virginia from 2015 to 2024, about the US share; speeding in 27%, about the US share; a hit-and-run in 3.3%, below the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 4.4%, below the US share of 8.7%; 52% 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 (1,527 in West Virginia).
| West Virginia | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 27% | 26% | about the same as the US share |
| Speeding | 27% | 27% | about the same as the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.4% | 8.7% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 52% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.3% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 13% | 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 fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 39%; a collision with another vehicle in 36%, a rollover in 9.3%, a pedestrian in 8.8%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 986 | 39% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 909 | 36% |
| Rollover | 235 | 9.3% |
| Pedestrian | 221 | 8.8% |
| Other | 106 | 4.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 31 | 1.2% |
| Cyclist | 28 | 1.1% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.0% |
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 West Virginia
Cars were 32% of the 3,492 vehicles in fatal crashes in West Virginia from 2015 to 2024, pickups 21%, SUVs 21%, motorcycles 9.8%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 1,132 | 32% |
| Pickups | 750 | 21% |
| SUVs | 742 | 21% |
| Motorcycles | 343 | 9.8% |
| Truck-tractors | 208 | 6.0% |
| Other trucks | 186 | 5.3% |
| Vans | 123 | 3.5% |
| Buses | 8 | 0.2% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in West Virginia per resident and per mile driven
| West Virginia | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 14.5 | 11.5 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 15.2 | 11.8 | above the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 1.49 | 1.19 | above the US rate |
Population 1,769,979 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 17,214 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 West Virginia
- How many people died in car accidents in West Virginia in 2024?
- 256 people died in 238 fatal crashes on West Virginia roads in 2024, 1.5% fewer than in 2023. That is 14.5 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 West Virginia?
- US 60 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in West Virginia from 2015 to 2024: 101, with 107 deaths. I-77 was second with 94.
- Which county in West Virginia has the most fatal crashes?
- Kanawha County, with 248 fatal crashes and 268 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 27 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in West Virginia happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 4 to 8 pm, with 108 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in West Virginia involved a drinking driver?
- 685 of 2,517 fatal crashes in West Virginia from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 27%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for West Virginia
Every county in West Virginia 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.
- Kanawha County 248
- Berkeley County 136
- Raleigh County 120
- Cabell County 112
- Monongalia County 98
- Wood County 98
- Mercer County 90
- Wayne County 77
- Jefferson County 69
- Logan County 63
- Harrison County 60
- Nicholas County 59
- Fayette County 58
- Greenbrier County 58
- Putnam County 58
- Hampshire County 57
- Jackson County 57
- Mason County 46
- Preston County 46
- Randolph County 45
- McDowell County 43
- Marion County 43
- Lincoln County 41
- Lewis County 39
- Boone County 38
- Mingo County 38
- Braxton County 37
- Ohio County 37
- Hardy County 36
- Upshur County 36
- Mineral County 31
- Grant County 30
- Roane County 30
Road pages for West Virginia
Every numbered road in West Virginia with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the West Virginia 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.