State Highway 61 in Kentucky: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 83 fatal crashes on State Highway 61 in Kentucky killed 87 people, the 13th most of any numbered road in Kentucky. In 2024 there were 12 fatal crashes and 13 deaths on the road.
An state highway running through 7 counties of Kentucky. All fatal crashes in Kentucky.
Deaths on State Highway 61 in Kentucky by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | 13 |
| 2023 | 11 | 12 |
| 2022 | 9 | 9 |
| 2021 | 9 | 9 |
| 2020 | 9 | 10 |
| 2019 | 8 | 8 |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 |
| 2017 | 10 | 10 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2 |
| 2015 | 8 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 61 in Kentucky: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Jefferson County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 61 from 2015 to 2024: 42, with 43 deaths. Jefferson, Bullitt and Green counties together held 78% of fatal crashes in State Highway 61 in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 93%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County | 6 | 42 | 43 |
| 2 | Bullitt County | 2 | 14 | 15 |
| 3 | Green County | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| 4 | Larue County | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 5 | Adair County | 2 | 6 | 6 |
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 61 in Kentucky
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 | 4.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 8.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 8.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 7.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan2.4%
- Feb2.4%
- Mar8.4%
- Apr8.4%
- May10.8%
- Jun14.5%
- Jul4.8%
- Aug13.3%
- Sep8.4%
- Oct12.0%
- Nov8.4%
- Dec6.0%
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 61 in Kentucky first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 46%; a pedestrian in 25%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 15%, a cyclist in 4.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 38 | 46% |
| Pedestrian | 21 | 25% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 12 | 15% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 4.8% |
| Rollover | 4 | 4.8% |
| Other | 4 | 4.8% |
| 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 on State Highway 61 in Kentucky compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 23% of fatal crashes in State Highway 61 in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024, below the Kentucky share of 25%; speeding in 9.6%, below the Kentucky share of 16%; a hit-and-run in 13%, above the Kentucky share of 4.3%; a driver recorded as distracted in 24%, above the Kentucky share of 19%; 49% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Kentucky share of 52%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Kentucky. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| State Highway 61 | Kentucky | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 39% | 66% | below the Kentucky share |
| At or near an intersection | 48% | 20% | above the Kentucky share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 37% | 29% | above the Kentucky share |
| A drinking driver | 23% | 25% | below the Kentucky share |
| Speeding | 9.6% | 16% | below the Kentucky share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 24% | 19% | above the Kentucky share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 49% | 52% | below the Kentucky share |
| Hit-and-run | 13% | 4.3% | above the Kentucky share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 14% | above the Kentucky share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 25% | 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 State Highway 61 in Kentucky
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 61 in Kentucky?
- 83 fatal crashes killed 87 people on State Highway 61 in Kentucky from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 12 fatal crashes and 13 deaths.
- Where on State Highway 61 in Kentucky do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Jefferson County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 61 from 2015 to 2024: 42, with 43 deaths. Bullitt County was second with 14.
Other roads in Kentucky with a page
All fatal crashes in Kentucky, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 61 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 61 in Kentucky (filed under 13 spellings, such as "SR-61", "SR-61 BURKESVILLE RD", "SR-61 GREENSBURG RD", "SR-61 HODGENSVILLE RD"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.