US 421 in Kentucky: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 79 fatal crashes on US 421 in Kentucky killed 86 people, the 14th most of any numbered road in Kentucky. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 7 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 11 counties of Kentucky. All fatal crashes in Kentucky.
Deaths on US 421 in Kentucky by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 8 | 8 |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 |
| 2017 | 8 | 9 |
| 2018 | 9 | 9 |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 |
| 2020 | 10 | 12 |
| 2021 | 11 | 12 |
| 2022 | 7 | 9 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024 | 6 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 421 in Kentucky: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Jackson County had the most fatal crashes on US 421 from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 20 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson | 1 | 18 | 20 |
| 2 | Clay | 0 | 12 | 14 |
| 3 | Harlan | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| 4 | Fayette | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| 5 | Trimble | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| 6 | Henry | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 7 | Madison | 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 421 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 | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 7.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 7.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.8%
- Feb10.1%
- Mar6.3%
- Apr6.3%
- May11.4%
- Jun8.9%
- Jul5.1%
- Aug12.7%
- Sep12.7%
- Oct6.3%
- Nov8.9%
- Dec7.6%
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 421 in Kentucky first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 38 | 48% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 22 | 28% |
| Pedestrian | 8 | 10% |
| Rollover | 6 | 7.6% |
| Other | 3 | 3.8% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 2.5% |
| 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 US 421 in Kentucky compare with the state
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Kentucky. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 421 | Kentucky | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 87% | 66% | above the Kentucky share |
| At or near an intersection | 18% | 20% | below the Kentucky share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 25% | 29% | below the Kentucky share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 25% | below the Kentucky share |
| Speeding | 11% | 16% | below the Kentucky share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 46% | 52% | below the Kentucky share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.3% | 4.3% | above the Kentucky share |
| A motorcycle involved | 11% | 14% | below the Kentucky share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 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
Other roads in Kentucky with a page
All fatal crashes in Kentucky, with every road ranked.
Where the US 421 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 421 in Kentucky (filed under 8 spellings, such as "US-421", "US-421 BATTLEFIELD MEMORIAL HW", "US-421 CASTLE HWY", "US-421 HIGHWAY 421 NORTH"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.