I-49 in Arkansas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 79 fatal crashes on I-49 in Arkansas killed 85 people, the 15th most of any numbered road in Arkansas. In 2024 there were 10 fatal crashes and 10 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 4 counties of Arkansas. All fatal crashes in Arkansas. I-49 in every state.
Deaths on I-49 in Arkansas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 10 |
| 2023 | 8 | 8 |
| 2022 | 11 | 13 |
| 2021 | 13 | 13 |
| 2020 | 7 | 7 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | 9 | 12 |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 |
| 2015 | 10 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-49 in Arkansas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Washington County County had the most fatal crashes on I-49 from 2015 to 2024: 33, with 34 deaths. Washington, Benton and Miller counties together held 92% of fatal crashes in I-49 in Arkansas from 2015 to 2024; the 4 listed held 100%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington County | 3 | 33 | 34 |
| 2 | Benton County | 4 | 27 | 28 |
| 3 | Miller County | 2 | 13 | 17 |
| 4 | Crawford County | 1 | 6 | 6 |
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-49 in Arkansas
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 | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 6.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 8.9 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan12.7%
- Feb7.6%
- Mar7.6%
- Apr8.9%
- May5.1%
- Jun10.1%
- Jul6.3%
- Aug16.5%
- Sep6.3%
- Oct8.9%
- Nov3.8%
- Dec6.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Fatal crashes per mile on I-49 in Arkansas
6.2 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 127 miles of I-49 in Arkansas, against 9.49 for all interstates in Arkansas. That ranks 4 of 4 interstates in Arkansas and 113 of 171 interstate pages on this site.
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS. Crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic.
What fatal crashes on I-49 in Arkansas first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 35%; a collision with another vehicle in 30%, a pedestrian in 17%, a rollover in 10%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 28 | 35% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 24 | 30% |
| Pedestrian | 13 | 17% |
| Rollover | 8 | 10% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 2.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 2.5% |
| Other | 2 | 2.5% |
| 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 I-49 in Arkansas compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 23% of fatal crashes in I-49 in Arkansas from 2015 to 2024, below the Arkansas share of 27%; speeding in 23%, about the Arkansas share; a hit-and-run in 3.8%, about the Arkansas share; a driver recorded as distracted in 6.3%, above the Arkansas share of 3.6%; 42% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Arkansas share of 54%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Arkansas. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-49 | Arkansas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 34% | 63% | below the Arkansas share |
| At or near an intersection | 1.3% | 15% | below the Arkansas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 51% | 34% | above the Arkansas share |
| A drinking driver | 23% | 27% | below the Arkansas share |
| Speeding | 23% | 22% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.3% | 3.6% | above the Arkansas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 42% | 54% | below the Arkansas share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.8% | 3.9% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 13% | 15% | below the Arkansas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 21% | 11% | above the Arkansas 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-49 in Arkansas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-49 in Arkansas?
- 79 fatal crashes killed 85 people on I-49 in Arkansas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 10 fatal crashes and 10 deaths.
- Where on I-49 in Arkansas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Washington County had the most fatal crashes on I-49 from 2015 to 2024: 33, with 34 deaths. Benton County was second with 27.
- How dangerous is I-49 in Arkansas per mile?
- 6.2 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 127 miles of road, against 9.49 for all interstates in Arkansas. That ranks 4 of 4 interstates in Arkansas and 113 of 171 interstate pages on this site. FARS records crashes, not traffic, so this is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle.
Other roads in Arkansas with a page
- I-30
- I-40
- I-430
- I-530
- I-55
- State Highway 10
- State Highway 18
- State Highway 5
- State Highway 7
- State Highway 9
- US 167
- US 270
All fatal crashes in Arkansas, with every road ranked.
Where the I-49 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-49 in Arkansas (filed under 8 spellings, such as "I-49", "I-49-21", "I-49-210", "I-49-27"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.