US 278 in Mississippi: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 66 fatal crashes on US 278 in Mississippi killed 79 people, the 19th most of any numbered road in Mississippi. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 6 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 7 counties of Mississippi. All fatal crashes in Mississippi.
Deaths on US 278 in Mississippi by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 6 |
| 2023 | 4 | 5 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 |
| 2021 | 7 | 10 |
| 2020 | 6 | 9 |
| 2019 | 5 | 6 |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | 9 | 12 |
| 2016 | 14 | 14 |
| 2015 | 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 278 in Mississippi: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Lafayette County had the most fatal crashes on US 278 from 2015 to 2024: 21, with 25 deaths. Lafayette, Pontotoc and Panola counties together held 79% of fatal crashes in US 278 in Mississippi from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 95%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette County | 2 | 21 | 25 |
| 2 | Pontotoc County | 1 | 18 | 18 |
| 3 | Panola County | 1 | 13 | 18 |
| 4 | Quitman County | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 5 | Monroe County | 0 | 5 | 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 US 278 in Mississippi
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 | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 10.6 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.5%
- Feb7.6%
- Mar16.7%
- Apr6.1%
- May7.6%
- Jun3.0%
- Jul7.6%
- Aug10.6%
- Sep15.2%
- Oct3.0%
- Nov13.6%
- Dec4.5%
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 278 in Mississippi first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 64%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 21%, a pedestrian in 6.1%, a rollover in 4.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 42 | 64% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 14 | 21% |
| Pedestrian | 4 | 6.1% |
| Rollover | 3 | 4.5% |
| Other | 2 | 3.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.5% |
| Cyclist | 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 278 in Mississippi compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 23% of fatal crashes in US 278 in Mississippi from 2015 to 2024, above the Mississippi share of 19%; speeding in 7.6%, below the Mississippi share of 15%; a hit-and-run in 0.0%, below the Mississippi share of 3.6%; a driver recorded as distracted in 1.5%, about the Mississippi share; 48% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Mississippi share of 53%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Mississippi. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 278 | Mississippi | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 85% | 70% | above the Mississippi share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 15% | above the Mississippi share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 41% | 35% | above the Mississippi share |
| A drinking driver | 23% | 19% | above the Mississippi share |
| Speeding | 7.6% | 15% | below the Mississippi share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 1.5% | 1.7% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 48% | 53% | below the Mississippi share |
| Hit-and-run | 0.0% | 3.6% | below the Mississippi share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.1% | 7.3% | below the Mississippi share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 5.1% | 12% | below the Mississippi 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 US 278 in Mississippi
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 278 in Mississippi?
- 66 fatal crashes killed 79 people on US 278 in Mississippi from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 6 deaths.
- Where on US 278 in Mississippi do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Lafayette County had the most fatal crashes on US 278 from 2015 to 2024: 21, with 25 deaths. Pontotoc County was second with 18.
Other roads in Mississippi with a page
- I-10
- I-20
- I-22
- I-55
- I-59
- State Highway 12
- State Highway 13
- State Highway 15
- State Highway 16
- State Highway 18
- State Highway 19
- State Highway 25
All fatal crashes in Mississippi, with every road ranked.
Where the US 278 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 278 in Mississippi (filed under 2 spellings, such as "US-278", "US-278 SR-6"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.