Fatal crashes in Wood County, West Virginia
In 2024, 14 people died in 14 fatal crashes in Wood County, West Virginia, up from 9 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 98 fatal crashes and 100 deaths, the 6th most of 55 counties in West Virginia.
16.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 14.5 across West Virginia in 2024; 11.9 against 15.2 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 82,757, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in West Virginia.
Deaths in Wood County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 | 14 |
| 2023 | 9 | 9 |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 |
| 2021 | 14 | 14 |
| 2020 | 14 | 16 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2017 | 10 | 10 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 |
| 2015 | 8 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Wood County
State Highway 14 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Wood County from 2015 to 2024: 19, with 20 deaths. The 6 roads listed held 66% of all fatal crashes in Wood County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 US route, 4 state highways. 74% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 26% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 14 | 19 | 20 | 7 | no page |
| 2 | I-77 | 13 | 13 | 3 | |
| 3 | US 50 | 13 | 13 | 4 | |
| 4 | State Highway 68 | 8 | 8 | 2 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | |
| 6 | State Highway 47 | 6 | 6 | 2 | no page |
Parkersburg had 35% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 34 of 98.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Parkersburg 34, Walker 10, Williamstown 8, Mineral Wells 7, Washington 5, Vienna 5. 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 Wood County
98 fatal crashes in Wood County, 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 1 pm to 2 pm; 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 | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 8.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 8.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.1%
- Feb9.2%
- Mar7.1%
- Apr9.2%
- May8.2%
- Jun10.2%
- Jul7.1%
- Aug6.1%
- Sep9.2%
- Oct6.1%
- Nov12.2%
- Dec10.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Wood County first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 41%; a collision with another vehicle in 39%, a pedestrian in 8.2%, a rollover in 6.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 40 | 41% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 38 | 39% |
| Pedestrian | 8 | 8.2% |
| Rollover | 6 | 6.1% |
| Other | 4 | 4.1% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 2.0% |
| 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 in Wood County compare with West Virginia
The largest difference from West Virginia: from 2015 to 2024, 42% of fatal crashes in Wood County were on rural roads, against 64% across West Virginia. 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 98 crashes.
| Wood | West Virginia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 42% | 64% | below the West Virginia share |
| At or near an intersection | 15% | 12% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 34% | 32% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| A drinking driver | 29% | 27% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| Speeding | 31% | 27% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.1% | 4.4% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 52% | 52% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.0% | 3.3% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 13% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 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 in Wood County, West Virginia
- How many people died in car accidents in Wood County in 2024?
- 14 people died in 14 fatal crashes in Wood County, West Virginia, in 2024, up from 9 in 2023. That is 16.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 14.5 across West Virginia. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Wood County?
- State Highway 14 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Wood County from 2015 to 2024: 19, with 20 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Wood County involved a drinking driver?
- 28 of 98 fatal crashes in Wood County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 29%, against 27% across West Virginia.
Other counties in West Virginia with a page
- Kanawha County
- Berkeley County
- Raleigh County
- Cabell County
- Monongalia County
- Mercer County
- Wayne County
- Jefferson County
- Logan County
- Harrison County
- Nicholas County
- Fayette County
All fatal crashes in West Virginia, with every county ranked.
Where the Wood County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Wood County (county code 107). 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/west-virginia/wood-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”