Fatal crashes in Jefferson County, Kentucky
In 2024, 113 people died in 109 fatal crashes in Jefferson County, Kentucky, 15.7% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 1,039 fatal crashes and 1,088 deaths, the most of any county in Kentucky.
14.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 15.4 across Kentucky in 2024; 14 against 17.1 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 793,881, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Kentucky.
Deaths in Jefferson County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 109 | 113 |
| 2023 | 130 | 134 |
| 2022 | 123 | 129 |
| 2021 | 116 | 124 |
| 2020 | 116 | 124 |
| 2019 | 90 | 97 |
| 2018 | 74 | 76 |
| 2017 | 104 | 107 |
| 2016 | 94 | 99 |
| 2015 | 83 | 85 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Jefferson County
US 31W had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Jefferson County from 2015 to 2024: 63, with 65 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 55% of all fatal crashes in Jefferson County from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 4 US routes, 7 state highways. 77% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 23% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 31W | 63 | 65 | 12 | |
| 2 | US 31 | 60 | 64 | 25 | |
| 3 | I-264 | 44 | 48 | 17 | |
| 4 | I-64 | 43 | 49 | 10 | |
| 5 | State Highway 61 | 42 | 43 | 18 | |
| 6 | State Highway 1934 | 40 | 40 | 14 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 1747 | 39 | 39 | 14 | no page |
| 8 | I-265 | 35 | 37 | 11 | no page |
| 9 | I-65 | 35 | 36 | 12 | |
| 10 | State Highway 1931 | 31 | 33 | 10 | no page |
| 11 | US 31E | 30 | 30 | 10 | |
| 12 | US 60 | 30 | 30 | 11 | |
| 13 | State Highway 1865 | 28 | 29 | 14 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 155 | 25 | 29 | 10 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 1020 | 25 | 26 | 10 | no page |
Louisville had 83% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 858 of 1,039.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Louisville 858, Shively 44, Jeffersontown 14, Saint Matthew 5, Lyndon 5. 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 Jefferson County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 54 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 10 pm to 11 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 | 5.2 percent, 54 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 35 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.9 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 31 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 34 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.7 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 40 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.2 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 26 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.4 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 50 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.9 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 52 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.3 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 45 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.4%
- Feb6.4%
- Mar7.8%
- Apr8.4%
- May8.6%
- Jun8.3%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug11.3%
- Sep8.0%
- Oct9.6%
- Nov8.9%
- Dec7.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Jefferson County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 41%; a pedestrian in 26%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 22%, a rollover in 3.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 423 | 41% |
| Pedestrian | 274 | 26% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 223 | 22% |
| Rollover | 39 | 3.8% |
| Cyclist | 33 | 3.2% |
| Other | 31 | 3.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 16 | 1.5% |
| 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 Jefferson County compare with Kentucky
The largest difference from Kentucky: from 2015 to 2024, 5.5% of fatal crashes in Jefferson County were on rural roads, against 66% across Kentucky. Also above the Kentucky share: intersections, unlit roads at night, speeding, unbelted occupants, hit-and-runs, motorcycles and pedestrians. Below it: distracted drivers. 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 1,039 crashes.
| Jefferson | Kentucky | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 5.5% | 66% | below the Kentucky share |
| At or near an intersection | 35% | 20% | above the Kentucky share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 29% | above the Kentucky share |
| A drinking driver | 27% | 25% | about the same as the Kentucky share |
| Speeding | 22% | 16% | above the Kentucky share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 12% | 19% | below the Kentucky share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 56% | 52% | above the Kentucky share |
| Hit-and-run | 14% | 4.3% | above the Kentucky share |
| A motorcycle involved | 18% | 14% | above the Kentucky share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 27% | 11% | above 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 Jefferson County, Kentucky
- How many people died in car accidents in Jefferson County in 2024?
- 113 people died in 109 fatal crashes in Jefferson County, Kentucky, in 2024, 15.7% fewer than in 2023. That is 14.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 15.4 across Kentucky. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Jefferson County?
- US 31W had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Jefferson County from 2015 to 2024: 63, with 65 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Jefferson County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 54 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Jefferson County involved a drinking driver?
- 283 of 1,039 fatal crashes in Jefferson County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 27%, against 25% across Kentucky.
Other counties in Kentucky with a page
- Fayette County
- Hardin County
- Warren County
- Pike County
- Pulaski County
- Laurel County
- Daviess County
- Bullitt County
- McCracken County
- Christian County
- Boone County
- Madison County
All fatal crashes in Kentucky, with every county ranked.
Where the Jefferson County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Jefferson County (county code 111). 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/jefferson-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”