US 285 in Colorado: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 102 fatal crashes on US 285 in Colorado killed 110 people, the 10th most of any numbered road in Colorado. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 13 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 9 counties of Colorado. All fatal crashes in Colorado.
Deaths on US 285 in Colorado by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | 13 |
| 2023 | 10 | 11 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 |
| 2021 | 12 | 15 |
| 2020 | 13 | 13 |
| 2019 | 12 | 12 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 |
| 2017 | 9 | 9 |
| 2016 | 12 | 13 |
| 2015 | 9 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 285 in Colorado: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Jefferson County County had the most fatal crashes on US 285 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 31 deaths. Jefferson, Park and Arapahoe counties together held 66% of fatal crashes in US 285 in Colorado from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 86%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County | 4 | 26 | 31 |
| 2 | Park County | 2 | 22 | 23 |
| 3 | Arapahoe County | 3 | 19 | 19 |
| 4 | Saguache County | 2 | 12 | 14 |
| 5 | Chaffee County | 1 | 9 | 9 |
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 285 in Colorado
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 | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 8.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.9%
- Feb4.9%
- Mar11.8%
- Apr10.8%
- May4.9%
- Jun10.8%
- Jul11.8%
- Aug11.8%
- Sep7.8%
- Oct7.8%
- Nov6.9%
- Dec4.9%
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 285 in Colorado first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 46%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 25%, a rollover in 14%, a pedestrian in 6.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 47 | 46% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 25 | 25% |
| Rollover | 14 | 14% |
| Pedestrian | 7 | 6.9% |
| Other | 7 | 6.9% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 2.0% |
| 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 285 in Colorado compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 25% of fatal crashes in US 285 in Colorado from 2015 to 2024, below the Colorado share of 34%; speeding in 30%, below the Colorado share of 35%; a hit-and-run in 3.9%, below the Colorado share of 6.1%; a driver recorded as distracted in 8.8%, about the Colorado share; 55% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, about the Colorado share. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Colorado. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 285 | Colorado | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 72% | 39% | above the Colorado share |
| At or near an intersection | 20% | 32% | below the Colorado share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 17% | 21% | below the Colorado share |
| A drinking driver | 25% | 34% | below the Colorado share |
| Speeding | 30% | 35% | below the Colorado share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.8% | 9.8% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 55% | 54% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.9% | 6.1% | below the Colorado share |
| A motorcycle involved | 24% | 21% | above the Colorado share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 6.4% | 14% | below 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 US 285 in Colorado
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 285 in Colorado?
- 102 fatal crashes killed 110 people on US 285 in Colorado from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 13 deaths.
- Where on US 285 in Colorado do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Jefferson County had the most fatal crashes on US 285 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 31 deaths. Park County was second with 22.
Other roads in Colorado with a page
- I-25
- I-70
- I-76
- State Highway 121
- State Highway 14
- State Highway 30
- State Highway 470
- State Highway 83
- State Highway 88
- State Highway 95
- US 160
- US 24
All fatal crashes in Colorado, with every road ranked.
Where the US 285 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 285 in Colorado (filed under 9 spellings, such as "US-285", "US-285 E HAMPDEN AVE", "US-285 E JEFFERSON AVE", "US-285 W HAMPDEN AVE"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.