Fatal crashes in Franklin County, Massachusetts
In 2024, 8 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Franklin County, Massachusetts, up from 7 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 69 fatal crashes and 71 deaths, the 12th most of 14 counties in Massachusetts.
Deaths in Franklin County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 8 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 |
| 2021 | 7 | 7 |
| 2020 | 4 | 4 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 |
| 2018 | 9 | 9 |
| 2017 | 8 | 8 |
| 2016 | 4 | 5 |
| 2015 | 11 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Franklin County
State Highway 2 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024: 12, with 12 deaths. The 4 roads listed held 45% of all fatal crashes in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 US route, 2 state highways. 57% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 43% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 2 | 12 | 12 | 5 | no page |
| 2 | US 5 | 7 | 8 | 1 | no page |
| 3 | I-91 | 6 | 6 | 1 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 116 | 6 | 6 | 4 | no page |
Greenfield had 17% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 12 of 69.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Greenfield 12, Deerfield 6, Orange 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 Franklin County
68 fatal crashes in Franklin County, Massachusetts 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 noon to 1 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 8.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 8.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan1.4%
- Feb7.2%
- Mar2.9%
- Apr7.2%
- May11.6%
- Jun11.6%
- Jul13.0%
- Aug4.3%
- Sep8.7%
- Oct13.0%
- Nov8.7%
- Dec10.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Franklin County first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 39%; a collision with another vehicle in 33%, a rollover in 8.7%, a pedestrian in 7.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 27 | 39% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 23 | 33% |
| Rollover | 6 | 8.7% |
| Pedestrian | 5 | 7.2% |
| Other | 5 | 7.2% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 4.3% |
| 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 Franklin County compare with Massachusetts
The largest difference from Massachusetts: from 2015 to 2024, 54% of fatal crashes in Franklin County were on rural roads, against 6.6% across Massachusetts. Below the Massachusetts share: pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Massachusetts. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 69 crashes.
| Franklin | Massachusetts | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 54% | 6.6% | above the Massachusetts share |
| At or near an intersection | 17% | 26% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 19% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| A drinking driver | 22% | 30% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| Speeding | 30% | 29% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 10% | 12% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 61% | 62% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.9% | 4.9% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| A motorcycle involved | 22% | 16% | about the same as the Massachusetts share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 7.0% | 20% | below the Massachusetts 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 Franklin County, Massachusetts
- How many people died in car accidents in Franklin County in 2024?
- 8 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Franklin County, Massachusetts, in 2024, up from 7 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Franklin County?
- State Highway 2 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024: 12, with 12 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Franklin County involved a drinking driver?
- 15 of 69 fatal crashes in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 22%, against 30% across Massachusetts.
Other counties in Massachusetts with a page
- Middlesex County
- Worcester County
- Bristol County
- Hampden County
- Norfolk County
- Plymouth County
- Essex County
- Suffolk County
- Barnstable County
- Berkshire County
- Hampshire County
All fatal crashes in Massachusetts, with every county ranked.
Where the Franklin County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Franklin County (county code 11). 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/massachusetts/franklin-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”