I-85: fatal crashes in every state
From 2015 to 2024, 922 fatal crashes on I-85 killed 1,014 people across the 5 states it runs through, the 12th most of any interstate. In 2024 there were 96 fatal crashes and 102 deaths on the road.
631 miles in all; 14.61 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles. All interstates ranked.
I-85 by state: fatal crashes, deaths and per mile
Georgia has the most fatal crashes on I-85, 318 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-85 in Georgia | 318 | 347 | 27 | 172 | 18.52 |
| 2 | I-85 in North Carolina | 309 | 337 | 35 | 204 | 15.15 |
| 3 | I-85 in South Carolina | 140 | 160 | 14 | 106 | 13.17 |
| 4 | I-85 in Alabama | 97 | 109 | 12 | 80 | 12.10 |
| 5 | I-85 in Virginia | 57 | 60 | 8 | 69 | 8.25 |
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-85 by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 96 | 102 |
| 2023 | 96 | 108 |
| 2022 | 93 | 101 |
| 2021 | 116 | 126 |
| 2020 | 90 | 97 |
| 2019 | 82 | 89 |
| 2018 | 101 | 116 |
| 2017 | 88 | 95 |
| 2016 | 84 | 94 |
| 2015 | 76 | 86 |
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-85
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 49 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 1 am to 2 am; 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 | 5.3 percent, 49 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 20 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.7 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 23 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 25 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.6 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 29 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.9 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 24 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.7 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 24 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.2 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 25 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.4%
- Feb6.7%
- Mar7.3%
- Apr8.4%
- May8.8%
- Jun8.9%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug7.8%
- Sep10.0%
- Oct8.2%
- Nov9.4%
- 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-85 first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 43%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 28%, a pedestrian in 15%, a rollover in 5.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 400 | 43% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 261 | 28% |
| Pedestrian | 139 | 15% |
| Rollover | 53 | 5.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 37 | 4.0% |
| Other | 29 | 3.1% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 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-85 compare with the United States
A drinking driver was recorded in 20% of fatal crashes in I-85 from 2015 to 2024, below the US share of 26%; speeding in 28%, above the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 5.5%, about the US share; a driver recorded as distracted in 5.6%, below the US share of 8.7%; 44% 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-85 | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 32% | 43% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 42% | 28% | above the US share |
| A drinking driver | 20% | 26% | below the US share |
| Speeding | 28% | 27% | above the US share |
| A distracted driver | 5.6% | 8.7% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 44% | 49% | below the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.5% | 6.5% | about the same as the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.6% | 16% | below the US share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 17% | 17% | about the same as 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-85
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-85?
- 922 fatal crashes killed 1,014 people on I-85 from 2015 to 2024, across the 5 states it runs through. In 2024 there were 96 fatal crashes and 102 deaths.
- Which state has the most fatal crashes on I-85?
- Georgia, with 318 fatal crashes and 347 deaths from 2015 to 2024; North Carolina is second with 309. Per mile, Georgia's stretch has 18.52 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles.
- How dangerous is I-85 per mile?
- 14.61 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 631 miles of road. That is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic. I-85 ranks 12th of 68 interstates on this site by fatal crashes.
- When do fatal crashes on I-85 happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 49 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-65 913
The deadliest roads in America, every interstate ranked.
Where the I-85 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-85, 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.