US 72 in Mississippi: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 68 fatal crashes on US 72 in Mississippi killed 81 people, the 16th most of any numbered road in Mississippi. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 7 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 5 counties of Mississippi. All fatal crashes in Mississippi.
Deaths on US 72 in Mississippi by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 10 | 12 |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | 10 | 15 |
| 2018 | 4 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 | 3 |
| 2020 | 6 | 7 |
| 2021 | 6 | 7 |
| 2022 | 10 | 10 |
| 2023 | 8 | 11 |
| 2024 | 7 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 72 in Mississippi: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Alcorn County had the most fatal crashes on US 72 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 29 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alcorn | 3 | 26 | 29 |
| 2 | Marshall | 0 | 13 | 16 |
| 3 | Benton | 3 | 11 | 13 |
| 4 | Tippah | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| 5 | Tishomingo | 1 | 9 | 9 |
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 72 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 | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 10.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.8%
- Feb10.3%
- Mar2.9%
- Apr13.2%
- May5.9%
- Jun7.4%
- Jul7.4%
- Aug13.2%
- Sep5.9%
- Oct8.8%
- Nov11.8%
- Dec4.4%
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 72 in Mississippi first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 46 | 68% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 9 | 13% |
| Pedestrian | 6 | 8.8% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 4.4% |
| Rollover | 3 | 4.4% |
| Other | 1 | 1.5% |
| 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 72 in Mississippi compare with the state
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Mississippi. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 72 | Mississippi | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 79% | 70% | above the Mississippi share |
| At or near an intersection | 28% | 15% | above the Mississippi share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 31% | 35% | below the Mississippi share |
| A drinking driver | 10% | 19% | below the Mississippi share |
| Speeding | 10% | 15% | below the Mississippi share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 43% | 53% | below the Mississippi share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.5% | 3.6% | below the Mississippi share |
| A motorcycle involved | 7.4% | 7.3% | about the same as the Mississippi share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.9% | 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
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 72 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 72 in Mississippi. Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.