US 81 in Nebraska: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 67 fatal crashes on US 81 in Nebraska killed 83 people, the 5th most of 108 numbered roads in Nebraska. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 7 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 10 counties of Nebraska. All fatal crashes in Nebraska.
Deaths on US 81 in Nebraska by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 7 |
| 2023 | 6 | 7 |
| 2022 | 7 | 9 |
| 2021 | 5 | 7 |
| 2020 | 7 | 8 |
| 2019 | 9 | 10 |
| 2018 | 8 | 10 |
| 2017 | 6 | 7 |
| 2016 | 11 | 15 |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 81 in Nebraska: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Madison County had the most fatal crashes on US 81 from 2015 to 2024: 15, with 19 deaths. Madison, Cedar and York counties together held 54% of fatal crashes on US 81 in Nebraska from 2015 to 2024; the 6 listed held 82%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison County | 0 | 15 | 19 |
| 2 | Cedar County | 1 | 12 | 15 |
| 3 | York County | 2 | 9 | 13 |
| 4 | Fillmore County | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| 5 | Polk County | 1 | 6 | 9 |
| 6 | Thayer County | 0 | 5 | 6 |
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 81 in Nebraska
59 fatal crashes on US 81 in Nebraska from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 6.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.0%
- Feb4.5%
- Mar6.0%
- Apr6.0%
- May9.0%
- Jun10.4%
- Jul10.4%
- Aug7.5%
- Sep13.4%
- Oct9.0%
- Nov6.0%
- Dec9.0%
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 81 in Nebraska first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 84%; a rollover in 6.0%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 6.0%, a pedestrian in 1.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 56 | 84% |
| Rollover | 4 | 6.0% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 4 | 6.0% |
| Other | 2 | 3.0% |
| Pedestrian | 1 | 1.5% |
| 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 81 in Nebraska compare with the state
The largest difference from Nebraska: from 2015 to 2024, 93% of fatal crashes on US 81 in Nebraska were on rural roads, against 69% across Nebraska. Also above the Nebraska share: intersections. Below it: drinking drivers, speeding and unbelted occupants. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Nebraska. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 67 crashes.
| US 81 | Nebraska | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 93% | 69% | above the Nebraska share |
| At or near an intersection | 48% | 29% | above the Nebraska share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 27% | 25% | about the same as the Nebraska share |
| A drinking driver | 13% | 33% | below the Nebraska share |
| Speeding | 7.5% | 18% | below the Nebraska share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.0% | 5.8% | about the same as the Nebraska share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 47% | 64% | below the Nebraska share |
| Hit-and-run | 0.0% | 2.8% | about the same as the Nebraska share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 12% | about the same as the Nebraska share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 2.4% | 7.8% | about the same as the Nebraska 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 on US 81 in Nebraska
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 81 in Nebraska?
- 67 fatal crashes killed 83 people on US 81 in Nebraska from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 7 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 81 in Nebraska do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Madison County had the most fatal crashes on US 81 from 2015 to 2024: 15, with 19 deaths. Cedar County was second with 12.
Other roads in Nebraska with a page
All fatal crashes in Nebraska, with every road ranked.
Where the US 81 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 81 in Nebraska. Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.