US 40 in Colorado: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 175 fatal crashes on US 40 in Colorado killed 193 people, the 4th most of any numbered road in Colorado. In 2024 there were 25 fatal crashes and 29 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 12 counties of Colorado. All fatal crashes in Colorado.
Deaths on US 40 in Colorado by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25 | 29 |
| 2023 | 19 | 20 |
| 2022 | 22 | 23 |
| 2021 | 19 | 19 |
| 2020 | 14 | 21 |
| 2019 | 20 | 24 |
| 2018 | 13 | 13 |
| 2017 | 13 | 13 |
| 2016 | 18 | 18 |
| 2015 | 12 | 13 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 40 in Colorado: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Denver County County had the most fatal crashes on US 40 from 2015 to 2024: 44, with 46 deaths. Denver, Jefferson and Arapahoe counties together held 55% of fatal crashes in US 40 in Colorado from 2015 to 2024; the 8 listed held 95%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver County | 7 | 44 | 46 |
| 2 | Jefferson County | 6 | 30 | 30 |
| 3 | Arapahoe County | 1 | 22 | 22 |
| 4 | Routt County | 3 | 21 | 23 |
| 5 | Grand County | 1 | 18 | 21 |
| 6 | Adams County | 3 | 17 | 17 |
| 7 | Cheyenne County | 1 | 7 | 14 |
| 8 | Moffat County | 2 | 7 | 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 40 in Colorado
The heaviest slot is Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 13 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.7 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.4 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.3%
- Feb9.1%
- Mar8.0%
- Apr4.0%
- May7.4%
- Jun9.1%
- Jul10.9%
- Aug8.0%
- Sep12.0%
- Oct8.6%
- Nov6.3%
- Dec10.3%
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 40 in Colorado first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 42%; a pedestrian in 30%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 13%, a rollover in 6.3%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 73 | 42% |
| Pedestrian | 53 | 30% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 22 | 13% |
| Rollover | 11 | 6.3% |
| Other | 10 | 5.7% |
| Cyclist | 5 | 2.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 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 on US 40 in Colorado compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 29% of fatal crashes in US 40 in Colorado from 2015 to 2024, below the Colorado share of 34%; speeding in 34%, below the Colorado share of 35%; a hit-and-run in 15%, above the Colorado share of 6.1%; a driver recorded as distracted in 8.0%, below the Colorado share of 9.8%; 40% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Colorado share of 54%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Colorado. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 40 | Colorado | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 35% | 39% | below the Colorado share |
| At or near an intersection | 39% | 32% | above the Colorado share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 13% | 21% | below the Colorado share |
| A drinking driver | 29% | 34% | below the Colorado share |
| Speeding | 34% | 35% | below the Colorado share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.0% | 9.8% | below the Colorado share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 40% | 54% | below the Colorado share |
| Hit-and-run | 15% | 6.1% | above the Colorado share |
| A motorcycle involved | 18% | 21% | below the Colorado share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 28% | 14% | above 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 40 in Colorado
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 40 in Colorado?
- 175 fatal crashes killed 193 people on US 40 in Colorado from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 25 fatal crashes and 29 deaths.
- Where on US 40 in Colorado do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Denver County had the most fatal crashes on US 40 from 2015 to 2024: 44, with 46 deaths. Jefferson County was second with 30.
- When do fatal crashes on US 40 in Colorado happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 13 fatal crashes.
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 40 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 40 in Colorado (filed under 9 spellings, such as "US-40", "US-40 E COLFAX AVE", "US-40 S ZEREX ST", "US-40 W COLFAX AVE"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.