Fatal crashes in Clay County, Missouri
In 2024, 29 people died in 24 fatal crashes in Clay County, Missouri, up from 18 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 191 fatal crashes and 206 deaths, the 7th most of 115 counties in Missouri.
11 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 15.3 across Missouri in 2024; 8.2 against 15.5 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 263,370, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Missouri.
Deaths in Clay County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24 | 29 |
| 2023 | 17 | 18 |
| 2022 | 14 | 15 |
| 2021 | 20 | 21 |
| 2020 | 14 | 16 |
| 2019 | 20 | 21 |
| 2018 | 25 | 27 |
| 2017 | 19 | 19 |
| 2016 | 18 | 20 |
| 2015 | 20 | 20 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Clay County
I-435 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Clay County from 2015 to 2024: 23, with 25 deaths. The 9 roads listed held 56% of all fatal crashes in Clay County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 2 US routes, 5 state highways. 63% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 37% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-435 | 23 | 25 | 5 | |
| 2 | US 169 | 20 | 21 | 3 | no page |
| 3 | I-35 | 15 | 17 | 4 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 210 | 12 | 13 | 4 | no page |
| 5 | US 69 | 12 | 12 | 3 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 92 | 8 | 9 | 1 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 152 | 6 | 6 | 2 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 291 | 6 | 6 | 5 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway H | 5 | 6 | 2 |
Kansas City had 44% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 84 of 191.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Kansas City 84, Liberty 15, Gladstone 7, Excelsior Springs 6, Claycomo 5, North Kansas City 5, Smithville 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 Clay County
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 16 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 10 pm to 11 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 | 6.8 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 8.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.4%
- Feb6.3%
- Mar6.8%
- Apr6.8%
- May7.3%
- Jun5.8%
- Jul16.2%
- Aug7.9%
- Sep9.9%
- Oct7.3%
- Nov8.4%
- Dec8.9%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Clay County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 40%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 34%, a pedestrian in 13%, a rollover in 7.3%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 76 | 40% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 64 | 34% |
| Pedestrian | 24 | 13% |
| Rollover | 14 | 7.3% |
| Other | 7 | 3.7% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 2.1% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 1.0% |
| 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 Clay County compare with Missouri
The largest difference from Missouri: from 2015 to 2024, 21% of fatal crashes in Clay County were on rural roads, against 52% across Missouri. Also above the Missouri share: unlit roads at night, drinking drivers and motorcycles. Below it: distracted drivers. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Missouri. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 191 crashes.
| Clay | Missouri | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 21% | 52% | below the Missouri share |
| At or near an intersection | 23% | 21% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 42% | 28% | above the Missouri share |
| A drinking driver | 37% | 28% | above the Missouri share |
| Speeding | 41% | 37% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.2% | 8.9% | below the Missouri share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 57% | 63% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.7% | 5.2% | about the same as the Missouri share |
| A motorcycle involved | 26% | 15% | above the Missouri share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 13% | 12% | about the same as the Missouri 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 Clay County, Missouri
- How many people died in car accidents in Clay County in 2024?
- 29 people died in 24 fatal crashes in Clay County, Missouri, in 2024, up from 18 in 2023. That is 11 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 15.3 across Missouri. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Clay County?
- I-435 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Clay County from 2015 to 2024: 23, with 25 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Clay County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 16 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Clay County involved a drinking driver?
- 70 of 191 fatal crashes in Clay County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 37%, against 28% across Missouri.
Other counties in Missouri with a page
- Jackson County
- St. Louis County
- St. Louis city
- Greene County
- Jefferson County
- St. Charles County
- Franklin County
- Boone County
- Jasper County
- Newton County
- Cass County
- St. Francois County
All fatal crashes in Missouri, with every county ranked.
Where the Clay County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Clay County (county code 47). 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/missouri/clay-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”