US 85 in Colorado: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 144 fatal crashes on US 85 in Colorado killed 169 people, the 6th most of any numbered road in Colorado. In 2024 there were 23 fatal crashes and 23 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 6 counties of Colorado. All fatal crashes in Colorado.
Deaths on US 85 in Colorado by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23 | 23 |
| 2023 | 14 | 14 |
| 2022 | 11 | 16 |
| 2021 | 11 | 14 |
| 2020 | 12 | 15 |
| 2019 | 13 | 16 |
| 2018 | 17 | 21 |
| 2017 | 11 | 11 |
| 2016 | 18 | 19 |
| 2015 | 14 | 20 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 85 in Colorado: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Weld County County had the most fatal crashes on US 85 from 2015 to 2024: 79, with 96 deaths. Weld, Adams and Denver counties together held 79% of fatal crashes in US 85 in Colorado from 2015 to 2024; the 6 listed held 100%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weld County | 15 | 79 | 96 |
| 2 | Adams County | 3 | 22 | 25 |
| 3 | Denver County | 2 | 13 | 15 |
| 4 | Douglas County | 2 | 13 | 13 |
| 5 | Arapahoe County | 0 | 9 | 10 |
| 6 | El Paso County | 1 | 8 | 10 |
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 85 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 | 4.9 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 6.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.0%
- Feb9.7%
- Mar7.6%
- Apr7.6%
- May8.3%
- Jun6.9%
- Jul9.7%
- Aug8.3%
- Sep13.2%
- Oct10.4%
- Nov6.9%
- Dec2.1%
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 85 in Colorado first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 54%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 21%, a rollover in 13%, a pedestrian in 7.6%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 78 | 54% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 30 | 21% |
| Rollover | 19 | 13% |
| Pedestrian | 11 | 7.6% |
| Other | 4 | 2.8% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 0.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.7% |
| 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 85 in Colorado compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 38% of fatal crashes in US 85 in Colorado from 2015 to 2024, above the Colorado share of 34%; speeding in 28%, below the Colorado share of 35%; a hit-and-run in 4.9%, below the Colorado share of 6.1%; a driver recorded as distracted in 6.9%, below the Colorado share of 9.8%; 48% 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 85 | Colorado | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 39% | 39% | about the same as the Colorado share |
| At or near an intersection | 42% | 32% | above the Colorado share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 21% | above the Colorado share |
| A drinking driver | 38% | 34% | above the Colorado share |
| Speeding | 28% | 35% | below the Colorado share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.9% | 9.8% | below the Colorado share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 48% | 54% | below the Colorado share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.9% | 6.1% | below the Colorado share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 21% | below the Colorado share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 7.1% | 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 85 in Colorado
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 85 in Colorado?
- 144 fatal crashes killed 169 people on US 85 in Colorado from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 23 fatal crashes and 23 deaths.
- Where on US 85 in Colorado do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Weld County had the most fatal crashes on US 85 from 2015 to 2024: 79, with 96 deaths. Adams 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 85 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 85 in Colorado (filed under 11 spellings, such as "US-85", "US-85 S SANA FE DR", "US-85 S SANTA FE DR", "US-85 SANTA FE DR"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.