Fatal crashes in El Paso County, Colorado
In 2024, 78 people died in 73 fatal crashes in El Paso County, Colorado, the same as in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 681 fatal crashes and 721 deaths, the most of any county in Colorado.
10.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.6 across Colorado in 2024; 10 against 11.4 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 752,772, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Colorado.
Deaths in El Paso County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 73 | 78 |
| 2023 | 76 | 78 |
| 2022 | 79 | 83 |
| 2021 | 73 | 77 |
| 2020 | 82 | 85 |
| 2019 | 62 | 66 |
| 2018 | 75 | 81 |
| 2017 | 70 | 77 |
| 2016 | 45 | 48 |
| 2015 | 46 | 48 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in El Paso County
I-25 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in El Paso County from 2015 to 2024: 85, with 90 deaths. The 8 roads listed held 34% of all fatal crashes in El Paso County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 2 US routes, 5 state highways. 34% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 66% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-25 | 85 | 90 | 30 | |
| 2 | US 24 | 63 | 70 | 17 | |
| 3 | State Highway 21 | 22 | 22 | 7 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 94 | 18 | 19 | 4 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 115 | 17 | 18 | 7 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 83 | 10 | 12 | 1 | |
| 7 | State Highway 16 | 9 | 10 | 2 | no page |
| 8 | US 85 | 8 | 10 | 5 |
Colorado Springs had 41% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 278 of 681.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Colorado Springs 278, Colorado Spgs 114, Fountain 23. 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 El Paso County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 38 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 6 pm to 7 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.8 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 14 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 20 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 15 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.6 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.2 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 31 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 26 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.2 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 38 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.2%
- Feb7.5%
- Mar6.3%
- Apr8.2%
- May7.5%
- Jun9.4%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug11.3%
- Sep8.4%
- Oct12.0%
- Nov8.2%
- Dec6.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in El Paso County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 41%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 25%, a pedestrian in 16%, a rollover in 11%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 279 | 41% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 169 | 25% |
| Pedestrian | 106 | 16% |
| Rollover | 74 | 11% |
| Other | 25 | 3.7% |
| Cyclist | 24 | 3.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 0.6% |
| 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 in El Paso County compare with Colorado
The largest difference from Colorado: from 2015 to 2024, 19% of fatal crashes in El Paso County were on rural roads, against 39% across Colorado. Also above the Colorado share: intersections and motorcycles. Below it: unlit roads at night and distracted drivers. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Colorado. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 681 crashes.
| El Paso | Colorado | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 19% | 39% | below the Colorado share |
| At or near an intersection | 39% | 32% | above the Colorado share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 15% | 21% | below the Colorado share |
| A drinking driver | 35% | 34% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| Speeding | 34% | 35% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 5.6% | 9.8% | below the Colorado share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 54% | 54% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.6% | 6.1% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| A motorcycle involved | 26% | 21% | above the Colorado share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 15% | 14% | about the same as the Colorado 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 El Paso County, Colorado
- How many people died in car accidents in El Paso County in 2024?
- 78 people died in 73 fatal crashes in El Paso County, Colorado, in 2024, the same as in 2023. That is 10.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.6 across Colorado. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in El Paso County?
- I-25 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in El Paso County from 2015 to 2024: 85, with 90 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in El Paso County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 38 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in El Paso County involved a drinking driver?
- 238 of 681 fatal crashes in El Paso County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 35%, against 34% across Colorado.
Other counties in Colorado with a page
- Adams County
- Denver County
- Weld County
- Arapahoe County
- Jefferson County
- Larimer County
- Pueblo County
- Boulder County
- Douglas County
- Mesa County
- La Plata County
- Garfield County
All fatal crashes in Colorado, with every county ranked.
Where the El Paso County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in El Paso County (county code 41). 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. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/colorado/el-paso-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”