Fatal crashes in Maricopa County, Arizona
In 2024, 596 people died in 560 fatal crashes in Maricopa County, 12.4% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 5,007 fatal crashes and 5,330 deaths, the most of any county in Arizona.
12.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 16.2 across Arizona in 2024; 12 against 15.2 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 4,673,096, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Arizona.
Deaths in Maricopa County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 560 | 596 |
| 2023 | 646 | 680 |
| 2022 | 630 | 679 |
| 2021 | 558 | 606 |
| 2020 | 460 | 492 |
| 2019 | 424 | 442 |
| 2018 | 466 | 490 |
| 2017 | 434 | 462 |
| 2016 | 452 | 478 |
| 2015 | 377 | 405 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Maricopa County
I-10 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Maricopa County from 2015 to 2024: 220, with 250 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 20% of all fatal crashes in Maricopa County from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 2 US routes, 10 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes with 5 or more fatal crashes in the county; county roads and city streets are in the county's total but not listed.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-10 | 220 | 250 | 85 | |
| 2 | US 60 | 165 | 181 | 56 | |
| 3 | State Highway 101 | 140 | 147 | 41 | |
| 4 | I-17 | 112 | 128 | 43 | |
| 5 | State Highway 202 | 107 | 120 | 50 | |
| 6 | State Highway 87 | 74 | 81 | 23 | |
| 7 | State Highway 85 | 33 | 41 | 15 | |
| 8 | State Highway 303 | 26 | 30 | 13 | no page |
| 9 | I-8 | 22 | 24 | 6 | |
| 10 | State Highway 51 | 21 | 23 | 8 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 74 | 19 | 22 | 10 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 88 | 18 | 18 | 9 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 347 | 13 | 16 | 3 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 238 | 5 | 7 | 1 | no page |
| 15 | US 60X | 5 | 5 | 0 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Phoenix 2,223, Mesa 441, Glendale 309, Tempe 202, Scottsdale 181, Chandler 159, Peoria 129, Gilbert 102. 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 Maricopa County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 230 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is December.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.2 percent, 159 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 80 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 74 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 101 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 160 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 162 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.3 percent, 65 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 89 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 87 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 126 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 117 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.3 percent, 65 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 85 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 74 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 100 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 142 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 146 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.0 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 98 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 75 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 116 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 161 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 145 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 75 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 81 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 90 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 104 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 161 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 166 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.0 percent, 101 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 108 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 80 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 137 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 186 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 208 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.4 percent, 166 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 92 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 87 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 117 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 204 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 230 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.5%
- Feb8.2%
- Mar8.8%
- Apr9.0%
- May8.7%
- Jun8.0%
- Jul7.5%
- Aug7.7%
- Sep7.7%
- Oct8.8%
- Nov9.0%
- Dec9.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Maricopa County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 42%; a pedestrian in 27%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 15%, a rollover in 5.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 2,100 | 42% |
| Pedestrian | 1,357 | 27% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 750 | 15% |
| Rollover | 276 | 5.5% |
| Other | 219 | 4.4% |
| Cyclist | 218 | 4.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 36 | 0.7% |
| Not reported | 51 | 1.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Maricopa County compare with Arizona
A drinking driver was recorded in 22% of fatal crashes in Maricopa County from 2015 to 2024, about the Arizona share; speeding in 33%, about the Arizona share; a hit-and-run in 10%, above the Arizona share of 7.8%; a driver recorded as distracted in 7.4%, about the Arizona share; 53% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, about the Arizona share. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Arizona. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Maricopa | Arizona | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 7.6% | 31% | below the Arizona share |
| At or near an intersection | 38% | 31% | above the Arizona share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 8.1% | 17% | below the Arizona share |
| A drinking driver | 22% | 22% | about the same as the Arizona share |
| Speeding | 33% | 33% | about the same as the Arizona share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.4% | 8.1% | about the same as the Arizona share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 53% | 54% | about the same as the Arizona share |
| Hit-and-run | 10% | 7.8% | above the Arizona share |
| A motorcycle involved | 21% | 18% | above the Arizona share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 27% | 21% | above the Arizona 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 Maricopa County
- How many people died in car accidents in Maricopa County in 2024?
- 596 people died in 560 fatal crashes in Maricopa County, Arizona, in 2024, 12.4% fewer than in 2023. That is 12.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 16.2 across Arizona.
- What is the deadliest road in Maricopa County?
- I-10 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Maricopa County from 2015 to 2024: 220, with 250 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Maricopa County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 230 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Maricopa County involved a drinking driver?
- 1,115 of 5,007 fatal crashes in Maricopa County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 22%, against 22% across Arizona.
Other counties in Arizona with a page
- Pima County
- Pinal County
- Mohave County
- Yavapai County
- Coconino County
- Navajo County
- Apache County
- Yuma County
- Cochise County
- Gila County
- La Paz County
- Graham County
All fatal crashes in Arizona, with every county ranked.
Where the Maricopa County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Maricopa County (county code 13). 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. The full method.