US 72 in Alabama: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 68 fatal crashes on US 72 in Alabama killed 76 people, the 13th most of any numbered road in Alabama. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 7 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 5 counties of Alabama. All fatal crashes in Alabama.
Deaths on US 72 in Alabama by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 | 12 | 12 |
| 2020 | 11 | 17 |
| 2021 | 12 | 13 |
| 2022 | 16 | 17 |
| 2023 | 8 | 8 |
| 2024 | 7 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 72 in Alabama: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Limestone County had the most fatal crashes on US 72 from 2015 to 2024: 23, with 28 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Limestone | 2 | 23 | 28 |
| 2 | Jackson | 3 | 22 | 23 |
| 3 | Madison | 0 | 10 | 11 |
| 4 | Colbert | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| 5 | Lauderdale | 1 | 6 | 7 |
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 US 72 in Alabama
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 5.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 8.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.4%
- Feb5.9%
- Mar5.9%
- Apr5.9%
- May7.4%
- Jun14.7%
- Jul8.8%
- Aug14.7%
- Sep10.3%
- Oct7.4%
- Nov2.9%
- Dec11.8%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 72 in Alabama first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 35 | 52% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 20 | 29% |
| Pedestrian | 5 | 7.4% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 4.4% |
| Other | 3 | 4.4% |
| Rollover | 1 | 1.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.5% |
| 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 US 72 in Alabama compare with the state
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Alabama. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 72 | Alabama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 50% | 59% | below the Alabama share |
| At or near an intersection | 32% | 18% | above the Alabama share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 24% | 33% | below the Alabama share |
| A drinking driver | 22% | 25% | below the Alabama share |
| Speeding | 28% | 27% | above the Alabama share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 44% | 58% | below the Alabama share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.9% | 3.9% | about the same as the Alabama share |
| A motorcycle involved | 18% | 10% | above the Alabama share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 7.9% | 12% | below the Alabama share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Other roads in Alabama with a page
- I-10
- I-20
- I-22
- I-59
- I-65
- I-85
- State Highway 13
- State Highway 14
- State Highway 157
- State Highway 17
- State Highway 20
- State Highway 21
All fatal crashes in Alabama, with every road ranked.
Where the US 72 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 72 in Alabama (filed under 3 spellings, such as "US-72 E SR-2", "US-72 SR 2", "US-72 SR-2"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.