US 49 in Mississippi: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 278 fatal crashes on US 49 in Mississippi killed 306 people, the 2nd most of 226 numbered roads in Mississippi. In 2024 there were 39 fatal crashes and 41 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 16 counties of Mississippi. All fatal crashes in Mississippi.
Deaths on US 49 in Mississippi by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 39 | 41 |
| 2023 | 32 | 36 |
| 2022 | 32 | 36 |
| 2021 | 27 | 29 |
| 2020 | 25 | 31 |
| 2019 | 29 | 32 |
| 2018 | 29 | 33 |
| 2017 | 27 | 28 |
| 2016 | 19 | 21 |
| 2015 | 19 | 19 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 49 in Mississippi: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Forrest County had the most fatal crashes on US 49 from 2015 to 2024: 55, with 58 deaths. Forrest, Harrison and Covington counties together held 46% of fatal crashes on US 49 in Mississippi from 2015 to 2024; the 13 listed held 98%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forrest County | 9 | 55 | 58 |
| 2 | Harrison County | 4 | 44 | 49 |
| 3 | Covington County | 3 | 30 | 35 |
| 4 | Simpson County | 3 | 26 | 29 |
| 5 | Stone County | 5 | 22 | 23 |
| 6 | Rankin County | 4 | 20 | 21 |
| 7 | Sunflower County | 0 | 15 | 16 |
| 8 | Humphreys County | 3 | 13 | 15 |
| 9 | Leflore County | 1 | 13 | 15 |
| 10 | Yazoo County | 3 | 12 | 14 |
| 11 | Hinds County | 2 | 11 | 12 |
| 12 | Holmes County | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| 13 | Coahoma County | 1 | 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 49 in Mississippi
The heaviest slot is Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 19 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is November.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 6.8 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.0 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.8%
- Feb6.1%
- Mar9.4%
- Apr7.9%
- May7.2%
- Jun7.2%
- Jul5.8%
- Aug9.7%
- Sep8.3%
- Oct10.4%
- Nov12.6%
- Dec8.6%
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 49 in Mississippi first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 49%; a pedestrian in 19%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 18%, a rollover in 10%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 137 | 49% |
| Pedestrian | 53 | 19% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 51 | 18% |
| Rollover | 28 | 10% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 1.4% |
| Other | 3 | 1.1% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 0.7% |
| 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 49 in Mississippi compare with the state
The largest difference from Mississippi: from 2015 to 2024, 27% of fatal crashes on US 49 in Mississippi were at or near an intersection, against 15% across Mississippi. Also above the Mississippi share: pedestrians. Below it: drinking drivers, speeding and unbelted occupants. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Mississippi. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 278 crashes.
| US 49 | Mississippi | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 66% | 70% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 15% | above the Mississippi share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 37% | 35% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| A drinking driver | 14% | 19% | below the Mississippi share |
| Speeding | 9.0% | 15% | below the Mississippi share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 1.8% | 1.7% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 45% | 53% | below the Mississippi share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.7% | 3.6% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| A motorcycle involved | 7.2% | 7.3% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 17% | 12% | above 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 on US 49 in Mississippi
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 49 in Mississippi?
- 278 fatal crashes killed 306 people on US 49 in Mississippi from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 39 fatal crashes and 41 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 49 in Mississippi do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Forrest County had the most fatal crashes on US 49 from 2015 to 2024: 55, with 58 deaths. Harrison County was second with 44.
- When do fatal crashes on US 49 in Mississippi happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 19 fatal crashes.
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 49 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 49 in Mississippi (filed under 10 spellings, such as "US- 49 SOUTH", "US-49", "US-49 EAST", "US-49 MEDGAR EVERS BLVD"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.