Fatal crashes in Montrose County, Colorado
In 2024, 10 people died in 8 fatal crashes in Montrose County, Colorado, up from 4 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 54 fatal crashes and 61 deaths, the 16th most of 64 counties in Colorado.
22.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.6 across Colorado in 2024; 14.3 against 11.4 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 44,806, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Colorado.
Deaths in Montrose County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 10 |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 |
| 2022 | 5 | 5 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 |
| 2019 | 5 | 6 |
| 2018 | 6 | 7 |
| 2017 | 9 | 9 |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 |
| 2015 | 4 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Montrose County
US 50 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Montrose County from 2015 to 2024: 11, with 12 deaths. The 4 roads listed held 59% of all fatal crashes in Montrose County from 2015 to 2024; 2 US routes, 2 state highways. 65% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 35% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 50 | 11 | 12 | 5 | |
| 2 | US 550 | 10 | 11 | 2 | no page |
| 3 | State Highway 141 | 6 | 6 | 1 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 348 | 5 | 5 | 2 | no page |
Montrose had 30% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 16 of 54.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Montrose 16. 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 Montrose County
54 fatal crashes in Montrose County, Colorado 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 1 pm to 2 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 7.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Sat | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.3%
- Feb3.7%
- Mar5.6%
- Apr5.6%
- May7.4%
- Jun14.8%
- Jul9.3%
- Aug16.7%
- Sep5.6%
- Oct7.4%
- Nov9.3%
- Dec5.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Montrose County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 32%; a rollover in 24%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 20%, a pedestrian in 7.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 17 | 32% |
| Rollover | 13 | 24% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 11 | 20% |
| Other | 6 | 11% |
| Pedestrian | 4 | 7.4% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 3.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.9% |
| 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
How fatal crashes in Montrose County compare with Colorado
The largest difference from Colorado: from 2015 to 2024, 56% of fatal crashes in Montrose County were on rural roads, against 39% across Colorado. Also above the Colorado share: 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 54 crashes.
| Montrose | Colorado | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 56% | 39% | above the Colorado share |
| At or near an intersection | 22% | 32% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 22% | 21% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| A drinking driver | 33% | 34% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| Speeding | 39% | 35% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 20% | 9.8% | above the Colorado share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 59% | 54% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.9% | 6.1% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 21% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 6.6% | 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 Montrose County, Colorado
- How many people died in car accidents in Montrose County in 2024?
- 10 people died in 8 fatal crashes in Montrose County, Colorado, in 2024, up from 4 in 2023. That is 22.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.6 across Colorado. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Montrose County?
- US 50 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Montrose County from 2015 to 2024: 11, with 12 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Montrose County involved a drinking driver?
- 18 of 54 fatal crashes in Montrose County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 33%, against 34% across Colorado.
Other counties in Colorado with a page
- El Paso County
- Adams County
- Denver County
- Weld County
- Arapahoe County
- Jefferson County
- Larimer County
- Pueblo County
- Boulder County
- Douglas County
- Mesa County
- La Plata County
All fatal crashes in Colorado, with every county ranked.
Where the Montrose County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Montrose County (county code 85). 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/montrose-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”