US 87 in Montana: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 64 fatal crashes on US 87 in Montana killed 81 people, the 4th most of any numbered road in Montana. In 2024 there were 11 fatal crashes and 12 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 7 counties of Montana. All fatal crashes in Montana.
Deaths on US 87 in Montana by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 12 |
| 2023 | 4 | 5 |
| 2022 | 6 | 9 |
| 2021 | 5 | 6 |
| 2020 | 4 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 | 11 |
| 2017 | 4 | 5 |
| 2016 | 7 | 7 |
| 2015 | 12 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 87 in Montana: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Cascade County had the most fatal crashes on US 87 from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 18 deaths. Cascade, Yellowstone and Chouteau counties together held 56% of fatal crashes in US 87 in Montana from 2015 to 2024; the 6 listed held 95%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cascade County | 3 | 13 | 18 |
| 2 | Yellowstone County | 2 | 13 | 13 |
| 3 | Chouteau County | 3 | 10 | 12 |
| 4 | Judith Basin County | 0 | 9 | 14 |
| 5 | Musselshell County | 2 | 9 | 11 |
| 6 | Fergus County | 0 | 7 | 10 |
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 87 in Montana
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 | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 7.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 6.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.1%
- Feb4.7%
- Mar4.7%
- Apr10.9%
- May4.7%
- Jun12.5%
- Jul14.1%
- Aug10.9%
- Sep9.4%
- Oct12.5%
- Nov3.1%
- Dec9.4%
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 87 in Montana first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 48%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a rollover in 14%, a pedestrian in 6.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 31 | 48% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 17 | 27% |
| Rollover | 9 | 14% |
| Pedestrian | 4 | 6.2% |
| Other | 3 | 4.7% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 87 in Montana compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 31% of fatal crashes in US 87 in Montana from 2015 to 2024, below the Montana share of 44%; speeding in 34%, below the Montana share of 36%; a hit-and-run in 0.0%, below the Montana share of 2.7%; a driver recorded as distracted in 11%, above the Montana share of 8.7%; 68% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above 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.
| US 87 | Montana | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 83% | 84% | about the same as the Montana share |
| At or near an intersection | 20% | 15% | above the Montana share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 22% | 35% | below the Montana share |
| A drinking driver | 31% | 44% | below the Montana share |
| Speeding | 34% | 36% | below the Montana share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 11% | 8.7% | above the Montana share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 68% | 64% | above the Montana share |
| Hit-and-run | 0.0% | 2.7% | below the Montana share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 14% | above the Montana share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 4.9% | 7.5% | below 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 US 87 in Montana
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 87 in Montana?
- 64 fatal crashes killed 81 people on US 87 in Montana from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 11 fatal crashes and 12 deaths.
- Where on US 87 in Montana do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Cascade County had the most fatal crashes on US 87 from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 18 deaths. Yellowstone County was second with 13.
Other roads in Montana with a page
All fatal crashes in Montana, with every road ranked.
Where the US 87 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 87 in Montana (filed under 14 spellings, such as "US-87", "US-87 10TH AVE S", "US-87 15TH ST NE", "US-87 E"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.