Fatal crashes in the United States in 1998
In 1998, 41,501 people died in 37,107 fatal crashes on US roads, 1.2% fewer than in 1997. That is about 114 deaths a day.
1997 · 1999 · All states today.
US road deaths since 1975, with 1998 marked
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them.
Road deaths by state in 1998
Texas, California and Florida together had 24% of the deaths. Deaths rose in 19 states and fell in 31 on the year before; the largest change was in Delaware, 20% down.
| State | Deaths, 1998 | Fatal crashes | Change on 1997 | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 3,586 | 3,168 | 2.1% | |
| 2 | California | 3,494 | 3,112 | -5.3% | |
| 3 | Florida | 2,825 | 2,548 | 1.4% | |
| 4 | North Carolina | 1,596 | 1,433 | 7.6% | |
| 5 | Georgia | 1,568 | 1,414 | -0.6% | |
| 6 | New York | 1,514 | 1,404 | -8.4% | |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 1,481 | 1,354 | -4.9% | |
| 8 | Ohio | 1,422 | 1,289 | -1.3% | |
| 9 | Illinois | 1,393 | 1,241 | -0.3% | |
| 10 | Michigan | 1,366 | 1,234 | -5.5% | |
| 11 | Tennessee | 1,216 | 1,110 | -0.7% | |
| 12 | Missouri | 1,169 | 1,017 | -1.9% | |
| 13 | Alabama | 1,071 | 958 | -10.2% | |
| 14 | South Carolina | 1,002 | 912 | 11.0% | |
| 15 | Indiana | 982 | 884 | 5.0% | |
| 16 | Arizona | 980 | 858 | 3.0% | |
| 17 | Mississippi | 948 | 842 | 10.1% | |
| 18 | Virginia | 935 | 834 | -5.0% | |
| 19 | Louisiana | 926 | 807 | -0.5% | |
| 20 | Kentucky | 858 | 766 | 0.1% | |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 755 | 647 | -9.9% | |
| 22 | New Jersey | 741 | 671 | -4.4% | |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 714 | 632 | -1.5% | |
| 24 | Washington | 662 | 590 | -1.8% | |
| 25 | Minnesota | 650 | 575 | 8.3% | |
| 26 | Colorado | 628 | 551 | 2.4% | |
| 27 | Arkansas | 625 | 545 | -5.3% | |
| 28 | Maryland | 606 | 549 | -0.8% | |
| 29 | Oregon | 538 | 485 | 2.7% | |
| 30 | Kansas | 492 | 440 | 2.1% | |
| 31 | Iowa | 449 | 386 | -4.1% | |
| 32 | New Mexico | 424 | 374 | -12.4% | |
| 33 | Massachusetts | 406 | 377 | -7.9% | |
| 34 | Nevada | 361 | 315 | 4.0% | |
| 35 | West Virginia | 354 | 330 | -7.1% | |
| 36 | Utah | 350 | 308 | -4.4% | |
| 37 | Connecticut | 329 | 306 | -2.9% | |
| 38 | Nebraska | 315 | 271 | 4.3% | |
| 39 | Idaho | 265 | 224 | 2.3% | |
| 40 | Montana | 237 | 208 | -10.6% | |
| 41 | Maine | 192 | 176 | 0.0% | |
| 42 | South Dakota | 165 | 149 | 11.5% | |
| 43 | Wyoming | 154 | 129 | 12.4% | |
| 44 | New Hampshire | 128 | 115 | 2.4% | |
| 45 | Hawaii | 120 | 113 | -8.4% | |
| 46 | Delaware | 115 | 106 | -19.6% | |
| 47 | Vermont | 104 | 88 | 8.3% | |
| 48 | North Dakota | 92 | 79 | -12.4% | |
| 49 | Rhode Island | 74 | 70 | -1.3% | |
| 50 | Alaska | 70 | 63 | -9.1% | |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 54 | 50 | -10.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Rates per 100,000 residents are given for 2015 onward, the years the site holds population estimates for.
Questions about fatal crashes in the United States in 1998
- How many people died in car accidents in the United States in 1998?
- 41,501 people died in 37,107 fatal crashes on US public roads in 1998, 1.2% fewer than in 1997. That is about 114 deaths a day.
- Which state had the most road deaths in 1998?
- Texas, with 3,586 deaths in 3,168 fatal crashes. California was second with 3,494 and Florida third with 2,825.
- Is 1998 the latest year available?
- No. The latest year NHTSA has published is 2024; the 1998 figures are final.
Where the 1998 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System file for 1998, the final file. Rates per 100,000 use Census Bureau population estimates. The full method.