US 79 in Arkansas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 70 fatal crashes on US 79 in Arkansas killed 74 people, the 17th most of 326 numbered roads in Arkansas. In 2024 there were 3 fatal crashes and 3 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 10 counties of Arkansas. All fatal crashes in Arkansas.
Deaths on US 79 in Arkansas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 3 |
| 2023 | 8 | 9 |
| 2022 | 10 | 10 |
| 2021 | 10 | 11 |
| 2020 | 8 | 9 |
| 2019 | 9 | 10 |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 |
| 2016 | 7 | 7 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 79 in Arkansas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Ouachita County had the most fatal crashes on US 79 from 2015 to 2024: 22, with 23 deaths. Ouachita, Jefferson and Columbia counties together held 59% of fatal crashes on US 79 in Arkansas from 2015 to 2024; the 6 listed held 86%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ouachita County | 2 | 22 | 23 |
| 2 | Jefferson County | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| 3 | Columbia County | 0 | 8 | 10 |
| 4 | Monroe County | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| 5 | Lee County | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| 6 | Arkansas County | 0 | 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 US 79 in Arkansas
69 fatal crashes on US 79 in Arkansas from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 5 am to 6 am; the worst month is June.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 7.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.6%
- Feb10.0%
- Mar7.1%
- Apr7.1%
- May7.1%
- Jun14.3%
- Jul0.0%
- Aug8.6%
- Sep8.6%
- Oct12.9%
- Nov11.4%
- Dec4.3%
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 79 in Arkansas first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 46%; a collision with another vehicle in 43%, a pedestrian in 5.7%, a rollover in 4.3%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 32 | 46% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 30 | 43% |
| Pedestrian | 4 | 5.7% |
| Rollover | 3 | 4.3% |
| Other | 1 | 1.4% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 79 in Arkansas compare with the state
From 2015 to 2024, every share for US 79 in Arkansas is within chance of the Arkansas share. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Arkansas. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 70 crashes.
| US 79 | Arkansas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 74% | 63% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| At or near an intersection | 11% | 15% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 41% | 34% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| A drinking driver | 36% | 27% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| Speeding | 16% | 22% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 1.4% | 3.6% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 58% | 54% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.3% | 3.9% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 10% | 15% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 5.4% | 11% | about the same as 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 on US 79 in Arkansas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 79 in Arkansas?
- 70 fatal crashes killed 74 people on US 79 in Arkansas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 3 fatal crashes and 3 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 79 in Arkansas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Ouachita County had the most fatal crashes on US 79 from 2015 to 2024: 22, with 23 deaths. Jefferson County was second with 11.
Other roads in Arkansas with a page
- I-30
- I-40
- I-430
- I-49
- I-530
- I-55
- State Highway 10
- State Highway 18
- State Highway 5
- State Highway 7
- State Highway 9
- US 167
All fatal crashes in Arkansas, with every road ranked.
Where the US 79 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 79 in Arkansas (filed under 26 spellings, such as "US- 79-03", "US- 79-04", "US- 79-13", "US-79"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.