Fatal crashes in Colorado
In 2024, 689 people died in 642 fatal crashes on Colorado roads, 4.3% fewer than in 2023. That is about 2 deaths a day, and 1.8% of all road deaths in the United States.
Colorado ranks 22nd of 51 by road deaths in 2024.
Road deaths in Colorado since 1975
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads in Colorado
I-25 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Colorado from 2015 to 2024: 331, with 367 deaths. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (160 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-25 | 331 | 367 | 105 | El Paso, Pueblo, Larimer |
| 2 | I-70 | 287 | 322 | 97 | Garfield, Arapahoe, Denver |
| 3 | US 287 | 177 | 210 | 62 | Larimer, Boulder, Adams |
| 4 | US 40 | 175 | 193 | 66 | Denver, Jefferson, Arapahoe |
| 5 | US 50 | 162 | 177 | 48 | Pueblo, Fremont, Gunnison |
| 6 | US 85 | 144 | 169 | 48 | Weld, Adams, Douglas |
| 7 | US 160 | 136 | 146 | 40 | La Plata, Montezuma, Archuleta |
| 8 | I-76 | 122 | 137 | 32 | Adams, Weld, Morgan |
| 9 | US 24 | 106 | 119 | 31 | El Paso, Teller, Park |
| 10 | US 285 | 102 | 110 | 29 | Jefferson, Park, Arapahoe |
| 11 | US 6 | 100 | 108 | 30 | Jefferson, Mesa, Adams |
| 12 | US 34 | 93 | 109 | 37 | Weld, Larimer, Morgan |
| 13 | State Highway 83 | 70 | 78 | 20 | Douglas, Arapahoe, El Paso |
| 14 | State Highway 121 | 62 | 64 | 16 | Jefferson, Broomfield, Denver |
| 15 | US 550 | 57 | 60 | 14 | Ouray, La Plata, Montrose |
| 16 | US 36 | 53 | 58 | 20 | Boulder, Adams, Arapahoe |
| 17 | State Highway 95 | 49 | 51 | 22 | Denver, Jefferson, Adams |
| 18 | State Highway 14 | 48 | 52 | 21 | Weld, Larimer, Jackson |
| 19 | State Highway 88 | 46 | 47 | 16 | Denver, Arapahoe |
| 20 | State Highway 30 | 42 | 47 | 15 | Arapahoe, Denver |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest counties in Colorado
El Paso County had the most fatal crashes in Colorado from 2015 to 2024: 681, with 721 deaths. 64 counties in Colorado recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso | 73 | 681 | 721 |
| 2 | Adams | 79 | 591 | 635 |
| 3 | Denver | 62 | 581 | 608 |
| 4 | Weld | 62 | 508 | 569 |
| 5 | Arapahoe | 55 | 464 | 501 |
| 6 | Jefferson | 52 | 450 | 478 |
| 7 | Larimer | 29 | 319 | 352 |
| 8 | Pueblo | 21 | 266 | 290 |
| 9 | Boulder | 22 | 233 | 255 |
| 10 | Douglas | 19 | 192 | 207 |
| 11 | Mesa | 15 | 174 | 181 |
| 12 | La Plata | 11 | 88 | 97 |
| 13 | Garfield | 6 | 87 | 101 |
| 14 | Fremont | 11 | 74 | 77 |
| 15 | Morgan | 6 | 70 | 78 |
| 16 | Montrose | 8 | 54 | 61 |
| 17 | Park | 4 | 51 | 53 |
| 18 | Logan | 3 | 49 | 55 |
| 19 | Montezuma | 4 | 49 | 52 |
| 20 | Delta | 5 | 48 | 51 |
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 Colorado
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 4 to 8 pm, with 249 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.3 percent, 196 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 98 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 184 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 194 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 189 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.6 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 124 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 91 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 160 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 180 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 136 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 63 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 101 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 102 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 169 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 180 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 129 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.0 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 105 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 157 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 207 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 140 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 84 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 100 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 110 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 156 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 178 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 161 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.6 percent, 98 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 80 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 113 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 138 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 234 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 223 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.9 percent, 172 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 94 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 141 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 211 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 249 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 213 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.3%
- Feb5.7%
- Mar6.5%
- Apr8.0%
- May8.4%
- Jun10.0%
- Jul10.6%
- Aug10.2%
- Sep10.5%
- Oct9.6%
- Nov7.5%
- Dec6.7%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Colorado: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Colorado | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 39% | 43% | below the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 32% | 25% | above the US share |
| In daylight | 50% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 25% | 21% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 21% | 28% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Colorado roads in 2024
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 390 | 57% |
| Motorcyclists | 165 | 24% |
| Pedestrians | 112 | 16% |
| Cyclists | 14 | 2.0% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 8 | 1.2% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Colorado: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (3,701 in Colorado).
| Colorado | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 34% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 35% | 27% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 54% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.1% | 6.5% | about the same as the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 21% | 16% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 2,346 | 39% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 1,422 | 24% |
| Rollover | 875 | 15% |
| Pedestrian | 860 | 14% |
| Other | 291 | 4.8% |
| Cyclist | 166 | 2.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 57 | 0.9% |
| 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
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Colorado
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (9,286 vehicles).
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 2,901 | 31% |
| SUVs | 2,214 | 24% |
| Pickups | 1,623 | 17% |
| Motorcycles | 1,288 | 14% |
| Truck-tractors | 479 | 5.2% |
| Other trucks | 429 | 4.6% |
| Vans | 301 | 3.2% |
| Buses | 51 | 0.5% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road pages for Colorado
Every numbered road in Colorado with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Colorado numbers come from
Every figure on this page is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I35 FRONTAGE" and "I-35" are the same road; frontage roads and ramps are left out of road counts). Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". The full method.