Fatal crashes in Kentucky
In 2024, 707 people died in 663 fatal crashes on Kentucky roads, 13.1% fewer than in 2023. That is about 2 deaths a day, and 1.8% of all road deaths in the United States.
Kentucky ranks 21st of 51 by road deaths in 2024.
Road deaths in Kentucky since 1975
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads in Kentucky
US 60 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024: 250, with 268 deaths. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (59 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 60 | 250 | 268 | 76 | Fayette, Jefferson, Mccracken |
| 2 | US 27 | 167 | 193 | 53 | Pulaski, Fayette, Jessamine |
| 3 | US 68 | 163 | 180 | 54 | Trigg, Warren, Marshall |
| 4 | I-65 | 161 | 174 | 47 | Jefferson, Bullitt, Warren |
| 5 | I-75 | 156 | 183 | 47 | Fayette, Madison, Rockcastle |
| 6 | I-64 | 145 | 163 | 33 | Jefferson, Shelby, Carter |
| 7 | US 25 | 139 | 144 | 40 | Fayette, Laurel, Madison |
| 8 | US 31W | 129 | 141 | 38 | Jefferson, Hardin, Warren |
| 9 | US 62 | 114 | 121 | 37 | Hardin, Mccracken, Scott |
| 10 | US 31 | 105 | 118 | 45 | Jefferson, Hardin, Barren |
| 11 | US 23 | 93 | 106 | 28 | Floyd, Pike, Lawrence |
| 12 | US 127 | 83 | 90 | 27 | Boyle, Mercer, Clinton |
| 13 | State Highway 61 | 83 | 87 | 32 | Jefferson, Bullitt, Green |
| 14 | US 421 | 79 | 86 | 15 | Jackson, Harlan, Clay |
| 15 | US 31E | 75 | 81 | 21 | Jefferson, Barren, Allen |
| 16 | State Highway 15 | 67 | 77 | 9 | Breathitt, Perry, Wolfe |
| 17 | US 460 | 66 | 71 | 20 | Pike, Montgomery, Bourbon |
| 18 | State Highway 80 | 63 | 69 | 13 | Pulaski, Laurel, Floyd |
| 19 | I-71 | 62 | 68 | 15 | Oldham, Jefferson, Carroll |
| 20 | US 150 | 60 | 71 | 15 | Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest counties in Kentucky
Jefferson County had the most fatal crashes in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024: 1,039, with 1,088 deaths. 120 counties in Kentucky recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson | 109 | 1,039 | 1,088 |
| 2 | Fayette | 34 | 340 | 369 |
| 3 | Hardin | 22 | 182 | 199 |
| 4 | Warren | 20 | 161 | 178 |
| 5 | Pike | 18 | 151 | 162 |
| 6 | Pulaski | 18 | 127 | 136 |
| 7 | Laurel | 17 | 122 | 132 |
| 8 | Daviess | 8 | 114 | 121 |
| 9 | Bullitt | 9 | 112 | 116 |
| 10 | Mccracken | 14 | 110 | 127 |
| 11 | Christian | 11 | 109 | 120 |
| 12 | Boone | 6 | 106 | 119 |
| 13 | Madison | 9 | 105 | 109 |
| 14 | Nelson | 10 | 100 | 112 |
| 15 | Kenton | 6 | 94 | 108 |
| 16 | Floyd | 8 | 94 | 104 |
| 17 | Barren | 7 | 89 | 95 |
| 18 | Grayson | 3 | 82 | 86 |
| 19 | Whitley | 11 | 82 | 85 |
| 20 | Marshall | 8 | 80 | 84 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Kentucky
The heaviest slot is Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 263 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.0 percent, 212 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 112 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 100 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 194 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 231 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 170 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.0 percent, 69 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 132 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 146 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 233 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 227 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 166 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 75 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 129 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 146 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 201 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 201 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 165 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.1 percent, 78 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 132 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 135 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 222 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 227 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 153 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 90 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 133 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 159 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 230 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 236 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 167 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.2 percent, 87 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 131 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 133 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 252 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 263 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 228 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.1 percent, 147 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 113 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 138 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 216 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 242 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 250 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.7%
- Feb6.4%
- Mar7.5%
- Apr7.5%
- May8.7%
- Jun8.7%
- Jul9.5%
- Aug10.2%
- Sep9.1%
- Oct9.9%
- Nov8.2%
- Dec7.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Kentucky: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Kentucky | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 66% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 20% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 55% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 10% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 28% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Kentucky roads in 2024
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 478 | 68% |
| Motorcyclists | 118 | 17% |
| Pedestrians | 95 | 13% |
| Cyclists | 11 | 1.6% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 5 | 0.7% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Kentucky: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (5,278 in Kentucky).
| Kentucky | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 25% | 26% | about the same as the US share |
| Speeding | 16% | 27% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 52% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.3% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 16% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 2,874 | 41% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 2,433 | 34% |
| Pedestrian | 791 | 11% |
| Rollover | 471 | 6.7% |
| Other | 336 | 4.7% |
| Cyclist | 92 | 1.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 77 | 1.1% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Kentucky
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (10,602 vehicles).
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 4,113 | 39% |
| Pickups | 2,105 | 20% |
| SUVs | 1,875 | 18% |
| Motorcycles | 1,017 | 9.6% |
| Truck-tractors | 596 | 5.6% |
| Other trucks | 439 | 4.1% |
| Vans | 419 | 4.0% |
| Buses | 38 | 0.4% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road pages for Kentucky
Every numbered road in Kentucky with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Kentucky numbers come from
Every figure on this page is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I35 FRONTAGE" and "I-35" are the same road; frontage roads and ramps are left out of road counts). Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". The full method.