US 56 in Kansas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 69 fatal crashes on US 56 in Kansas killed 83 people, the 6th most of any numbered road in Kansas. In 2024 there were 4 fatal crashes and 5 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 16 counties of Kansas. All fatal crashes in Kansas.
Deaths on US 56 in Kansas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 5 |
| 2023 | 11 | 12 |
| 2022 | 5 | 7 |
| 2021 | 6 | 9 |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 |
| 2019 | 7 | 8 |
| 2018 | 4 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 | 7 |
| 2016 | 8 | 9 |
| 2015 | 9 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 56 in Kansas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
McPherson County County had the most fatal crashes on US 56 from 2015 to 2024: 10, with 15 deaths. McPherson, Marion and Gray counties together held 38% of fatal crashes in US 56 in Kansas from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 52%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McPherson County | 0 | 10 | 15 |
| 2 | Marion County | 1 | 9 | 16 |
| 3 | Gray County | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| 4 | Barton County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Douglas County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
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 56 in Kansas
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 | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 11.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.8%
- Feb2.9%
- Mar13.0%
- Apr7.2%
- May10.1%
- Jun7.2%
- Jul1.4%
- Aug2.9%
- Sep10.1%
- Oct8.7%
- Nov15.9%
- Dec14.5%
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 56 in Kansas first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 70%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 16%, a rollover in 10%, a pedestrian in 2.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 48 | 70% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 11 | 16% |
| Rollover | 7 | 10% |
| Pedestrian | 2 | 2.9% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| Other | 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 56 in Kansas compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 23% of fatal crashes in US 56 in Kansas from 2015 to 2024, about the Kansas share; speeding in 20%, below the Kansas share of 24%; a hit-and-run in 2.9%, about the Kansas share; a driver recorded as distracted in 35%, above the Kansas share of 23%; 37% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Kansas share of 51%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Kansas. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 56 | Kansas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 84% | 63% | above the Kansas share |
| At or near an intersection | 29% | 25% | above the Kansas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 19% | 26% | below the Kansas share |
| A drinking driver | 23% | 23% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| Speeding | 20% | 24% | below the Kansas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 35% | 23% | above the Kansas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 37% | 51% | below the Kansas share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.9% | 3.7% | about the same as the Kansas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 5.8% | 14% | below the Kansas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 2.4% | 8.3% | below the Kansas 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 56 in Kansas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 56 in Kansas?
- 69 fatal crashes killed 83 people on US 56 in Kansas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 4 fatal crashes and 5 deaths.
- Where on US 56 in Kansas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- McPherson County had the most fatal crashes on US 56 from 2015 to 2024: 10, with 15 deaths. Marion County was second with 9.
Other roads in Kansas with a page
All fatal crashes in Kansas, with every road ranked.
Where the US 56 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 56 in Kansas (filed under 6 spellings, such as "US-56", "US-56 HWY", "US-56 RD", "US-56 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.