US 3 in New Hampshire: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 52 fatal crashes on US 3 in New Hampshire killed 59 people, the 2nd most of 99 numbered roads in New Hampshire. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 10 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 5 counties of New Hampshire. All fatal crashes in New Hampshire.
Deaths on US 3 in New Hampshire by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 10 |
| 2023 | 5 | 7 |
| 2022 | 10 | 11 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | 6 | 7 |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 |
| 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 3 in New Hampshire: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Merrimack County had the most fatal crashes on US 3 from 2015 to 2024: 17, with 19 deaths. Merrimack, Belknap and Hillsborough counties together held 73% of fatal crashes on US 3 in New Hampshire from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merrimack County | 2 | 17 | 19 |
| 2 | Belknap County | 4 | 12 | 14 |
| 3 | Hillsborough County | 1 | 9 | 11 |
| 4 | Coos County | 0 | 9 | 10 |
| 5 | Grafton County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
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 3 in New Hampshire
52 fatal crashes on US 3 in New Hampshire 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 6 pm to 7 pm; the worst month is December.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 9.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.8%
- Feb9.6%
- Mar5.8%
- Apr7.7%
- May5.8%
- Jun13.5%
- Jul11.5%
- Aug3.8%
- Sep11.5%
- Oct7.7%
- Nov3.8%
- Dec15.4%
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 3 in New Hampshire first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 39%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a pedestrian in 19%, a rollover in 5.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 20 | 39% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 14 | 27% |
| Pedestrian | 10 | 19% |
| Rollover | 3 | 5.8% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 3.8% |
| Other | 2 | 3.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.9% |
| 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 3 in New Hampshire compare with the state
The largest difference from New Hampshire: from 2015 to 2024, 39% of fatal crashes on US 3 in New Hampshire were on rural roads, against 53% across New Hampshire. Also above the New Hampshire share: pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of New Hampshire. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 52 crashes.
| US 3 | New Hampshire | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 39% | 53% | below the New Hampshire share |
| At or near an intersection | 23% | 18% | about the same as the New Hampshire share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 17% | 25% | about the same as the New Hampshire share |
| A drinking driver | 29% | 33% | about the same as the New Hampshire share |
| Speeding | 35% | 40% | about the same as the New Hampshire share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.8% | 6.7% | about the same as the New Hampshire share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 73% | 69% | about the same as the New Hampshire share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.9% | 1.8% | about the same as the New Hampshire share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 23% | about the same as the New Hampshire share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 19% | 9.7% | above the New Hampshire 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 3 in New Hampshire
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 3 in New Hampshire?
- 52 fatal crashes killed 59 people on US 3 in New Hampshire from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 10 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 3 in New Hampshire do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Merrimack County had the most fatal crashes on US 3 from 2015 to 2024: 17, with 19 deaths. Belknap County was second with 12.
Other roads in New Hampshire with a page
All fatal crashes in New Hampshire, with every road ranked.
Where the US 3 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 3 in New Hampshire (filed under 6 spellings, such as "US-3", "US-3 ELM ST", "US-3 EVERETT TPKE", "US-3 HOOKSETT RD"). 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.