I-90 in Montana: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 201 fatal crashes on I-90 in Montana killed 224 people, the most of any numbered road in Montana. In 2024 there were 15 fatal crashes and 16 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 16 counties of Montana. All fatal crashes in Montana.
Deaths on I-90 in Montana by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 | 16 |
| 2023 | 17 | 19 |
| 2022 | 23 | 29 |
| 2021 | 30 | 35 |
| 2020 | 24 | 28 |
| 2019 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 14 | 15 |
| 2017 | 22 | 22 |
| 2016 | 22 | 24 |
| 2015 | 19 | 20 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-90 in Montana: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Gallatin County County had the most fatal crashes on I-90 from 2015 to 2024: 27, with 32 deaths. Gallatin, Missoula and Big Horn counties together held 38% of fatal crashes in I-90 in Montana from 2015 to 2024; the 13 listed held 98%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gallatin County | 2 | 27 | 32 |
| 2 | Missoula County | 1 | 26 | 28 |
| 3 | Big Horn County | 0 | 23 | 27 |
| 4 | Yellowstone County | 2 | 22 | 24 |
| 5 | Jefferson County | 1 | 17 | 20 |
| 6 | Mineral County | 1 | 17 | 18 |
| 7 | Stillwater County | 2 | 13 | 14 |
| 8 | Park County | 1 | 11 | 13 |
| 9 | Sweet Grass County | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| 10 | Granite County | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| 11 | Powell County | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| 12 | Deer Lodge County | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 13 | Silver Bow County | 1 | 6 | 7 |
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 I-90 in Montana
The heaviest slot is Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 12 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 1 pm to 2 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 | 5.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.0%
- Feb5.0%
- Mar6.0%
- Apr5.5%
- May4.5%
- Jun7.5%
- Jul13.4%
- Aug12.4%
- Sep9.5%
- Oct12.9%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec9.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Fatal crashes per mile on I-90 in Montana
3.69 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 545 miles of I-90 in Montana, against 2.78 for all interstates in Montana. That ranks 1 of 2 interstates in Montana and 152 of 171 interstate pages on this site.
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS. Crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic.
What fatal crashes on I-90 in Montana first hit
The first harmful event was a rollover in 34%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 31%, a collision with another vehicle in 21%, a pedestrian in 5.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Rollover | 68 | 34% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 63 | 31% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 43 | 21% |
| Other | 14 | 7.0% |
| Pedestrian | 10 | 5.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 3 | 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 I-90 in Montana compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 32% of fatal crashes in I-90 in Montana from 2015 to 2024, below the Montana share of 44%; speeding in 35%, about the Montana share; a hit-and-run in 1.5%, below the Montana share of 2.7%; 52% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Montana share of 64%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Montana. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-90 | Montana | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 90% | 84% | above the Montana share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.5% | 15% | below the Montana share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 39% | 35% | above the Montana share |
| A drinking driver | 32% | 44% | below the Montana share |
| Speeding | 35% | 36% | about the same as the Montana share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 52% | 64% | below the Montana share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.5% | 2.7% | below the Montana share |
| A motorcycle involved | 8.5% | 14% | below the Montana share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 6.7% | 7.5% | about the same as the Montana 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 I-90 in Montana
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-90 in Montana?
- 201 fatal crashes killed 224 people on I-90 in Montana from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 15 fatal crashes and 16 deaths.
- Where on I-90 in Montana do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Gallatin County had the most fatal crashes on I-90 from 2015 to 2024: 27, with 32 deaths. Missoula County was second with 26.
- When do fatal crashes on I-90 in Montana happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 12 fatal crashes.
- How dangerous is I-90 in Montana per mile?
- 3.69 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 545 miles of road, against 2.78 for all interstates in Montana. That ranks 1 of 2 interstates in Montana and 152 of 171 interstate pages on this site. FARS records crashes, not traffic, so this is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle.
Other roads in Montana with a page
All fatal crashes in Montana, with every road ranked.
Where the I-90 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-90 in Montana (filed under 10 spellings, such as "I- 90", "I-90", "I-90 E", "I-90 EAST"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.