I-26: fatal crashes in every state
From 2015 to 2024, 359 fatal crashes on I-26 killed 410 people across the 3 states it runs through, the 27th most of any interstate. In 2024 there were 32 fatal crashes and 41 deaths on the road.
328 miles in all; 10.95 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles. All interstates ranked.
I-26 by state: fatal crashes, deaths and per mile
South Carolina has the most fatal crashes on I-26, 288 from 2015 to 2024. Each state's stretch is counted within that state; the per-mile figure needs 20 miles or more of road.
| State | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2024 | Miles | Per 100 miles a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-26 in South Carolina | 288 | 332 | 22 | 221 | 13.04 |
| 2 | North Carolina | 38 | 39 | 6 | 53 | 7.21 |
| 3 | I-26 in Tennessee | 33 | 39 | 4 | 54 | 6.06 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS.
Deaths on I-26 by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 32 | 41 |
| 2023 | 34 | 37 |
| 2022 | 32 | 32 |
| 2021 | 40 | 51 |
| 2020 | 41 | 48 |
| 2019 | 34 | 40 |
| 2018 | 46 | 49 |
| 2017 | 27 | 28 |
| 2016 | 32 | 33 |
| 2015 | 41 | 51 |
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 I-26
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 19 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 am to 3 am; 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 | 5.3 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 3.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.8 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.6%
- Feb5.8%
- Mar8.9%
- Apr9.7%
- May8.6%
- Jun5.3%
- Jul10.3%
- Aug9.7%
- Sep8.4%
- Oct12.0%
- Nov7.5%
- Dec8.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on I-26 first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 38%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 32%, a pedestrian in 10%, a rollover in 9.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 136 | 38% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 116 | 32% |
| Pedestrian | 37 | 10% |
| Rollover | 34 | 9.5% |
| Other | 19 | 5.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 16 | 4.5% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 0.3% |
| 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 I-26 compare with the United States
A drinking driver was recorded in 28% of fatal crashes in I-26 from 2015 to 2024, above the US share of 26%; speeding in 44%, above the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 3.9%, below the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 6.4%, below the US share of 8.7%; 41% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the US share of 49%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all US roads.
| I-26 | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 57% | 43% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 44% | 28% | above the US share |
| A drinking driver | 28% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 44% | 27% | above the US share |
| A distracted driver | 6.4% | 8.7% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 41% | 49% | below the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.9% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 9.5% | 16% | below the US share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 12% | 17% | below the US 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 I-26
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-26?
- 359 fatal crashes killed 410 people on I-26 from 2015 to 2024, across the 3 states it runs through. In 2024 there were 32 fatal crashes and 41 deaths.
- Which state has the most fatal crashes on I-26?
- South Carolina, with 288 fatal crashes and 332 deaths from 2015 to 2024; North Carolina is second with 38. Per mile, South Carolina's stretch has 13.04 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles.
- How dangerous is I-26 per mile?
- 10.95 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 328 miles of road. That is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic. I-26 ranks 27th of 68 interstates on this site by fatal crashes.
- When do fatal crashes on I-26 happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 19 fatal crashes.
Other interstates
- I-10 3,274
- I-95 2,778
- I-40 2,208
- I-75 2,062
- I-20 1,789
- I-80 1,774
- I-5 1,745
- I-35 1,531
- I-70 1,354
- I-15 1,188
- I-90 996
- I-85 922
The deadliest roads in America, every interstate ranked.
Where the I-26 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-26, in every state, with ramps, frontage and service roads left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.