Fatal crashes in Breathitt County, Kentucky
In 2024, 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Breathitt County, Kentucky, down from 7 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 45 fatal crashes and 49 deaths, the 50th most of 120 counties in Kentucky.
Deaths in Breathitt County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 | 7 |
| 2022 | 3 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020 | 4 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 | 6 |
| 2017 | 6 | 6 |
| 2016 | 7 | 8 |
| 2015 | 2 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Breathitt County
State Highway 15 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Breathitt County from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 20 deaths. The 2 roads listed held 56% of all fatal crashes in Breathitt County from 2015 to 2024; 2 state highways. 84% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 16% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 15 | 18 | 20 | 2 | no page |
| 2 | State Highway 30 | 7 | 7 | 2 | no page |
Jackson had 36% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 16 of 45.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Jackson 16. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
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 Breathitt County
45 fatal crashes in Breathitt County, Kentucky from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 4 pm to 5 pm; the worst month is April.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 8.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan11.1%
- Feb6.7%
- Mar11.1%
- Apr13.3%
- May4.4%
- Jun4.4%
- Jul6.7%
- Aug4.4%
- Sep11.1%
- Oct6.7%
- Nov6.7%
- Dec13.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Breathitt County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 40%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 22%, a rollover in 20%, a pedestrian in 6.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 18 | 40% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 10 | 22% |
| Rollover | 9 | 20% |
| Other | 5 | 11% |
| Pedestrian | 3 | 6.7% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 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 in Breathitt County compare with Kentucky
The largest difference from Kentucky: from 2015 to 2024, 100% of fatal crashes in Breathitt County were on rural roads, against 66% across Kentucky. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Kentucky. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 45 crashes.
| Breathitt | Kentucky | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 100% | 66% | above the Kentucky share |
| At or near an intersection | 16% | 20% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 40% | 29% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| A drinking driver | 38% | 25% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| Speeding | 11% | 16% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 24% | 19% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 65% | 52% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.2% | 4.3% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.7% | 14% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 6.1% | 11% | about the same as the Kentucky 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 Breathitt County, Kentucky
- How many people died in car accidents in Breathitt County in 2024?
- 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Breathitt County, Kentucky, in 2024, down from 7 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Breathitt County?
- State Highway 15 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Breathitt County from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 20 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Breathitt County involved a drinking driver?
- 17 of 45 fatal crashes in Breathitt County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 38%, against 25% across Kentucky.
Other counties in Kentucky with a page
- Jefferson County
- Fayette County
- Hardin County
- Warren County
- Pike County
- Pulaski County
- Laurel County
- Daviess County
- Bullitt County
- McCracken County
- Christian County
- Boone County
All fatal crashes in Kentucky, with every county ranked.
Where the Breathitt County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Breathitt County (county code 25). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/kentucky/breathitt-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”