State Highway 1 in Delaware: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 98 fatal crashes on State Highway 1 in Delaware killed 109 people, the 2nd most of any numbered road in Delaware. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 5 deaths on the road.
An state highway running through 3 counties of Delaware. All fatal crashes in Delaware.
Deaths on State Highway 1 in Delaware by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 5 |
| 2023 | 10 | 11 |
| 2022 | 13 | 15 |
| 2021 | 11 | 12 |
| 2020 | 10 | 11 |
| 2019 | 10 | 10 |
| 2018 | 12 | 17 |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 1 in Delaware: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Sussex County County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 1 from 2015 to 2024: 40, with 44 deaths. Sussex, Kent and New Castle counties together held 100% of fatal crashes in State Highway 1 in Delaware from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sussex County | 3 | 40 | 44 |
| 2 | Kent County | 2 | 31 | 31 |
| 3 | New Castle County | 0 | 27 | 34 |
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 State Highway 1 in Delaware
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 | 5.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 5.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.1%
- Feb7.1%
- Mar4.1%
- Apr6.1%
- May10.2%
- Jun7.1%
- Jul11.2%
- Aug9.2%
- Sep9.2%
- Oct18.4%
- Nov7.1%
- Dec4.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on State Highway 1 in Delaware first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 43%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 22%, a pedestrian in 20%, a cyclist in 6.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 42 | 43% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 22 | 22% |
| Pedestrian | 20 | 20% |
| Cyclist | 6 | 6.1% |
| Other | 5 | 5.1% |
| Rollover | 2 | 2.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.0% |
| 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 State Highway 1 in Delaware compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 19% of fatal crashes in State Highway 1 in Delaware from 2015 to 2024, below the Delaware share of 25%; speeding in 28%, below the Delaware share of 29%; a hit-and-run in 3.1%, below the Delaware share of 7.1%; 43% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Delaware share of 47%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Delaware. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| State Highway 1 | Delaware | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 47% | 41% | above the Delaware share |
| At or near an intersection | 15% | 32% | below the Delaware share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 38% | 38% | about the same as the Delaware share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 25% | below the Delaware share |
| Speeding | 28% | 29% | below the Delaware share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 43% | 47% | below the Delaware share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.1% | 7.1% | below the Delaware share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 14% | above the Delaware share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 22% | 23% | about the same as the Delaware 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 State Highway 1 in Delaware
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 1 in Delaware?
- 98 fatal crashes killed 109 people on State Highway 1 in Delaware from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 5 deaths.
- Where on State Highway 1 in Delaware do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Sussex County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 1 from 2015 to 2024: 40, with 44 deaths. Kent County was second with 31.
Other roads in Delaware with a page
All fatal crashes in Delaware, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 1 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as State Highway 1 in Delaware (filed under 18 spellings, such as "SR-1", "SR-1 BAY RD", "SR-1 BAY RD S/B", "SR-1 BAY ROAD"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.