US 50 in West Virginia: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 87 fatal crashes on US 50 in West Virginia killed 100 people, the 4th most of 128 numbered roads in West Virginia. In 2024 there were 9 fatal crashes and 9 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 10 counties of West Virginia. All fatal crashes in West Virginia.
Deaths on US 50 in West Virginia by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | 9 |
| 2023 | 9 | 9 |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 |
| 2021 | 15 | 20 |
| 2020 | 11 | 14 |
| 2019 | 5 | 6 |
| 2018 | 12 | 13 |
| 2017 | 6 | 9 |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 |
| 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 US 50 in West Virginia: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Hampshire County had the most fatal crashes on US 50 from 2015 to 2024: 19, with 23 deaths. Hampshire, Harrison and Doddridge counties together held 54% of fatal crashes on US 50 in West Virginia from 2015 to 2024; the 7 listed held 92%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hampshire County | 4 | 19 | 23 |
| 2 | Harrison County | 1 | 15 | 20 |
| 3 | Doddridge County | 0 | 13 | 17 |
| 4 | Wood County | 2 | 13 | 13 |
| 5 | Mineral County | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| 6 | Preston County | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | Taylor County | 1 | 6 | 6 |
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 50 in West Virginia
87 fatal crashes on US 50 in West 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 2 pm to 3 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.9%
- Feb8.0%
- Mar1.1%
- Apr8.0%
- May10.3%
- Jun8.0%
- Jul6.9%
- Aug10.3%
- Sep18.4%
- Oct3.4%
- Nov8.0%
- Dec10.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 50 in West Virginia first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 59%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 30%, a rollover in 8.0%, a pedestrian in 3.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 51 | 59% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 26 | 30% |
| Rollover | 7 | 8.0% |
| Pedestrian | 3 | 3.4% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| Other | 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 50 in West Virginia compare with the state
The largest difference from West Virginia: from 2015 to 2024, 30% of fatal crashes on US 50 in West Virginia were at or near an intersection, against 12% across West Virginia. Below the West Virginia share: drinking drivers and speeding. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of West Virginia. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 87 crashes.
| US 50 | West Virginia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 74% | 64% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| At or near an intersection | 30% | 12% | above the West Virginia share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 32% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| A drinking driver | 12% | 27% | below the West Virginia share |
| Speeding | 16% | 27% | below the West Virginia share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 5.7% | 4.4% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 49% | 52% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| Hit-and-run | 0.0% | 3.3% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| A motorcycle involved | 20% | 13% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 4.0% | 8.7% | about the same as the West 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 50 in West Virginia
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 50 in West Virginia?
- 87 fatal crashes killed 100 people on US 50 in West Virginia from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 9 fatal crashes and 9 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 50 in West Virginia do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Hampshire County had the most fatal crashes on US 50 from 2015 to 2024: 19, with 23 deaths. Harrison County was second with 15.
Other roads in West Virginia with a page
- I-64
- I-77
- I-79
- State Highway 10
- State Highway 16
- State Highway 2
- State Highway 20
- State Highway 3
- US 119
- US 19
- US 60
All fatal crashes in West Virginia, with every road ranked.
Where the US 50 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 50 in West Virginia (filed under 9 spellings, such as "US-50", "US-50 GEORGE WASHINGTON HWY", "US-50 NORTH PIKE ST", "US-50 NORTHWESTERN PIKE"). 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.