Fatal crashes in Yellowstone County, Montana
In 2024, 24 people died in 23 fatal crashes in Yellowstone County, Montana, 11.1% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 186 fatal crashes and 203 deaths, the most of any county in Montana.
14 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.1 across Montana in 2024; 12.4 against 18.9 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 171,583, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Montana.
Deaths in Yellowstone County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23 | 24 |
| 2023 | 23 | 27 |
| 2022 | 18 | 19 |
| 2021 | 25 | 29 |
| 2020 | 14 | 16 |
| 2019 | 17 | 18 |
| 2018 | 21 | 24 |
| 2017 | 12 | 12 |
| 2016 | 16 | 17 |
| 2015 | 17 | 17 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Yellowstone County
I-90 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Yellowstone County from 2015 to 2024: 22, with 24 deaths. The 4 roads listed held 29% of all fatal crashes in Yellowstone County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 1 US route, 1 state highway. 34% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 66% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
Billings had 43% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 80 of 186.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Billings 80. 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 Yellowstone County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 11 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 2.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 4.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.8%
- Feb6.5%
- Mar5.9%
- Apr3.2%
- May8.6%
- Jun10.8%
- Jul11.3%
- Aug12.4%
- Sep9.7%
- Oct9.1%
- Nov7.5%
- Dec10.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Yellowstone County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 36%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 28%, a rollover in 15%, a pedestrian in 11%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 67 | 36% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 52 | 28% |
| Rollover | 28 | 15% |
| Pedestrian | 20 | 11% |
| Other | 13 | 7.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 3 | 1.6% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 1.1% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.5% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Yellowstone County compare with Montana
The largest difference from Montana: from 2015 to 2024, 42% of fatal crashes in Yellowstone County were on rural roads, against 84% across Montana. Also above the Montana share: intersections and motorcycles. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Montana. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 186 crashes.
| Yellowstone | Montana | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 42% | 84% | below the Montana share |
| At or near an intersection | 32% | 15% | above the Montana share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 33% | 35% | about the same as the Montana share |
| A drinking driver | 43% | 44% | about the same as the Montana share |
| Speeding | 41% | 36% | about the same as the Montana share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.1% | 8.7% | about the same as the Montana share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 64% | 64% | about the same as the Montana share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.3% | 2.7% | about the same as the Montana share |
| A motorcycle involved | 28% | 14% | above the Montana share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 10% | 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 Yellowstone County, Montana
- How many people died in car accidents in Yellowstone County in 2024?
- 24 people died in 23 fatal crashes in Yellowstone County, Montana, in 2024, 11.1% fewer than in 2023. That is 14 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.1 across Montana. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Yellowstone County?
- I-90 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Yellowstone County from 2015 to 2024: 22, with 24 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Yellowstone County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 11 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Yellowstone County involved a drinking driver?
- 79 of 186 fatal crashes in Yellowstone County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 43%, against 44% across Montana.
Other counties in Montana with a page
- Flathead County
- Missoula County
- Big Horn County
- Gallatin County
- Cascade County
- Lake County
- Lewis and Clark County
All fatal crashes in Montana, with every county ranked.
Where the Yellowstone County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Yellowstone County (county code 111). 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/montana/yellowstone-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”