US 50 in Colorado: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 162 fatal crashes on US 50 in Colorado killed 177 people, the 5th most of any numbered road in Colorado. In 2024 there were 12 fatal crashes and 12 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 11 counties of Colorado. All fatal crashes in Colorado.
Deaths on US 50 in Colorado by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | 12 |
| 2023 | 12 | 12 |
| 2022 | 24 | 27 |
| 2021 | 18 | 19 |
| 2020 | 19 | 22 |
| 2019 | 16 | 19 |
| 2018 | 15 | 18 |
| 2017 | 23 | 24 |
| 2016 | 13 | 14 |
| 2015 | 10 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 50 in Colorado: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Pueblo County had the most fatal crashes on US 50 from 2015 to 2024: 52, with 57 deaths. Pueblo, Fremont and Gunnison counties together held 67% of fatal crashes in US 50 in Colorado from 2015 to 2024; the 10 listed held 99%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pueblo County | 3 | 52 | 57 |
| 2 | Fremont County | 3 | 34 | 36 |
| 3 | Gunnison County | 0 | 22 | 26 |
| 4 | Montrose County | 3 | 11 | 12 |
| 5 | Delta County | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| 6 | Mesa County | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| 7 | Bent County | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | Chaffee County | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| 9 | Otero County | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 10 | Prowers County | 0 | 5 | 6 |
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 50 in Colorado
The heaviest slot is Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 13 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 6 pm to 7 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 | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 8.0 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.9%
- Feb5.6%
- Mar6.8%
- Apr7.4%
- May6.2%
- Jun9.3%
- Jul14.2%
- Aug11.1%
- Sep11.7%
- Oct10.5%
- Nov8.6%
- Dec3.7%
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 50 in Colorado first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 49%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 21%, a rollover in 14%, a pedestrian in 11%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 79 | 49% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 34 | 21% |
| Rollover | 23 | 14% |
| Pedestrian | 18 | 11% |
| Other | 5 | 3.1% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 1.2% |
| 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 50 in Colorado compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 22% of fatal crashes in US 50 in Colorado from 2015 to 2024, below the Colorado share of 34%; speeding in 35%, about the Colorado share; a hit-and-run in 2.5%, below the Colorado share of 6.1%; a driver recorded as distracted in 11%, about the Colorado share; 53% 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 50 | Colorado | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 59% | 39% | above the Colorado share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 32% | below the Colorado share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 21% | above the Colorado share |
| A drinking driver | 22% | 34% | below the Colorado share |
| Speeding | 35% | 35% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 11% | 9.8% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 53% | 54% | below the Colorado share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.5% | 6.1% | below the Colorado share |
| A motorcycle involved | 19% | 21% | below the Colorado share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 10% | 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 50 in Colorado
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 50 in Colorado?
- 162 fatal crashes killed 177 people on US 50 in Colorado from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 12 fatal crashes and 12 deaths.
- Where on US 50 in Colorado do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Pueblo County had the most fatal crashes on US 50 from 2015 to 2024: 52, with 57 deaths. Fremont County was second with 34.
- When do fatal crashes on US 50 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 50 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 50 in Colorado (filed under 11 spellings, such as "US-50", "US-50 E MAIN ST", "US-50 SANTA FE DR", "US-50 SAN JUAN AVE"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.