Fatal crashes in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
In 2024, 35 people died in 35 fatal crashes in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, 12.9% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 349 fatal crashes and 381 deaths, the 5th most of 67 counties in Alabama.
14.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.7 across Alabama in 2024; 17.1 against 19.3 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 241,212, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Alabama.
Deaths in Tuscaloosa County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 35 | 35 |
| 2023 | 28 | 31 |
| 2022 | 41 | 44 |
| 2021 | 40 | 48 |
| 2020 | 31 | 37 |
| 2019 | 29 | 31 |
| 2018 | 25 | 27 |
| 2017 | 35 | 37 |
| 2016 | 46 | 50 |
| 2015 | 39 | 41 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Tuscaloosa County
I-59 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Tuscaloosa County from 2015 to 2024: 51, with 56 deaths. The 11 roads listed held 49% of all fatal crashes in Tuscaloosa County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 3 US routes, 6 state highways. 50% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 50% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-59 | 51 | 56 | 17 | |
| 2 | State Highway 69 | 25 | 29 | 8 | |
| 3 | US 82 | 21 | 25 | 11 | |
| 4 | State Highway 171 | 14 | 17 | 1 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 216 | 14 | 14 | 6 | no page |
| 6 | US 43 | 13 | 14 | 6 | |
| 7 | I-359 | 8 | 8 | 5 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 7 | 7 | 9 | 0 | no page |
| 9 | US 11 | 7 | 9 | 4 | |
| 10 | State Highway 215 | 6 | 8 | 1 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 13 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Tuscaloosa had 25% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 87 of 349.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Tuscaloosa 87, Northport 29, Brookwood 7. 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 Tuscaloosa County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Friday), with 21 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 6 pm to 7 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 6.0 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.6%
- Feb7.7%
- Mar7.4%
- Apr8.0%
- May7.7%
- Jun7.2%
- Jul7.4%
- Aug13.2%
- Sep9.5%
- Oct9.2%
- Nov6.0%
- Dec10.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Tuscaloosa County 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 34%, a pedestrian in 14%, a rollover in 7.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 149 | 43% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 120 | 34% |
| Pedestrian | 50 | 14% |
| Rollover | 25 | 7.2% |
| Other | 3 | 0.9% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 0.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 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 in Tuscaloosa County compare with Alabama
The largest difference from Alabama: from 2015 to 2024, 36% of fatal crashes in Tuscaloosa County were with a drinking driver, against 25% across Alabama. Below the Alabama share: unbelted occupants. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Alabama. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 349 crashes.
| Tuscaloosa | Alabama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 55% | 59% | about the same as the Alabama share |
| At or near an intersection | 18% | 18% | about the same as the Alabama share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 37% | 33% | about the same as the Alabama share |
| A drinking driver | 36% | 25% | above the Alabama share |
| Speeding | 25% | 27% | about the same as the Alabama share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.0% | 5.5% | about the same as the Alabama share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 51% | 58% | below the Alabama share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.9% | 3.9% | about the same as the Alabama share |
| A motorcycle involved | 8.0% | 10% | about the same as the Alabama share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 15% | 12% | about the same as the Alabama 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 Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
- How many people died in car accidents in Tuscaloosa County in 2024?
- 35 people died in 35 fatal crashes in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, in 2024, 12.9% more than in 2023. That is 14.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.7 across Alabama. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Tuscaloosa County?
- I-59 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Tuscaloosa County from 2015 to 2024: 51, with 56 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Tuscaloosa County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Friday), with 21 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Tuscaloosa County involved a drinking driver?
- 127 of 349 fatal crashes in Tuscaloosa County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 36%, against 25% across Alabama.
Other counties in Alabama with a page
- Jefferson County
- Mobile County
- Madison County
- Montgomery County
- Baldwin County
- Limestone County
- Cullman County
- Talladega County
- Calhoun County
- Shelby County
- Lee County
- Walker County
All fatal crashes in Alabama, with every county ranked.
Where the Tuscaloosa County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Tuscaloosa County (county code 125). 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/alabama/tuscaloosa-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”