Fatal crashes in New Mexico
In 2024, 409 people died in 378 fatal crashes on New Mexico roads, 7.0% fewer than in 2023. That is about 1 death a day, and 1% of all road deaths in the United States.
New Mexico ranks 31st of 51 by road deaths in 2024.
Road deaths in New Mexico since 1975
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads in New Mexico
I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024: 361, with 427 deaths. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (46 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-40 | 361 | 427 | 128 | Bernalillo, Mckinley, Cibola |
| 2 | I-25 | 295 | 334 | 107 | Bernalillo, Socorro, Santa Fe |
| 3 | US 285 | 97 | 104 | 35 | Chaves, Eddy, Santa Fe |
| 4 | I-10 | 95 | 118 | 23 | Luna, Hidalgo, Dona Ana |
| 5 | US 64 | 88 | 94 | 27 | San Juan, Rio Arriba, Taos |
| 6 | State Highway 45 | 87 | 90 | 20 | Bernalillo |
| 7 | US 550 | 73 | 85 | 21 | Sandoval, San Juan, Rio Arriba |
| 8 | US 70 | 71 | 75 | 25 | Chaves, Roosevelt, Dona Ana |
| 9 | US 60 | 57 | 64 | 19 | Socorro, Torrance, De Baca |
| 10 | US 84 | 52 | 65 | 13 | Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Guadalupe |
| 11 | US 54 | 49 | 60 | 26 | Otero, Guadalupe, Lincoln |
| 12 | US 62 | 48 | 54 | 21 | Lea, Eddy |
| 13 | US 491 | 44 | 52 | 8 | San Juan, Mckinley |
| 14 | State Highway 68 | 38 | 44 | 8 | Rio Arriba, Taos, Santa Fe |
| 15 | State Highway 128 | 36 | 45 | 9 | Lea, Eddy |
| 16 | State Highway 14 | 35 | 35 | 11 | Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Sandoval |
| 17 | State Highway 47 | 32 | 33 | 5 | Valencia, Bernalillo |
| 18 | State Highway 18 | 31 | 38 | 13 | Lea |
| 19 | US 380 | 26 | 30 | 9 | Chaves, Lea, Lincoln |
| 20 | State Highway 118 | 25 | 29 | 5 | Mckinley |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest counties in New Mexico
Bernalillo County had the most fatal crashes in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024: 988, with 1,043 deaths. 33 counties in New Mexico recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bernalillo | 112 | 988 | 1,043 |
| 2 | San Juan | 18 | 251 | 285 |
| 3 | Mckinley | 14 | 237 | 278 |
| 4 | Dona Ana | 20 | 216 | 237 |
| 5 | Santa Fe | 17 | 188 | 201 |
| 6 | Lea | 30 | 168 | 194 |
| 7 | Sandoval | 11 | 137 | 157 |
| 8 | Eddy | 18 | 131 | 148 |
| 9 | Cibola | 5 | 117 | 141 |
| 10 | Chaves | 14 | 105 | 113 |
| 11 | Rio Arriba | 9 | 103 | 116 |
| 12 | Valencia | 11 | 97 | 99 |
| 13 | Torrance | 12 | 90 | 103 |
| 14 | Otero | 11 | 86 | 95 |
| 15 | Luna | 3 | 80 | 95 |
| 16 | Socorro | 10 | 77 | 94 |
| 17 | Taos | 7 | 75 | 80 |
| 18 | Guadalupe | 9 | 67 | 87 |
| 19 | Curry | 3 | 56 | 59 |
| 20 | San Miguel | 8 | 55 | 58 |
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 New Mexico
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 161 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 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 | 2.6 percent, 97 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 50 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 93 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 127 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 133 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 50 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 45 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 68 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 89 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 115 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 102 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.8 percent, 31 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 82 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 54 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 78 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 103 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 105 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.6 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 72 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 63 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 84 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 111 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 103 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.1 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 62 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 92 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 105 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 98 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.5 percent, 56 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 81 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 90 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 143 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 161 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.7 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 93 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 65 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 106 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 140 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 158 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.2%
- Feb7.5%
- Mar7.9%
- Apr7.5%
- May8.4%
- Jun8.8%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug8.8%
- Sep9.4%
- Oct9.1%
- Nov7.9%
- Dec8.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in New Mexico: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| New Mexico | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 55% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 22% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 45% | 46% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 16% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 33% | 28% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on New Mexico roads in 2024
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 261 | 64% |
| Pedestrians | 90 | 22% |
| Motorcyclists | 50 | 12% |
| Cyclists | 6 | 1.5% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 2 | 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 happen in New Mexico: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (2,167 in New Mexico).
| New Mexico | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 26% | 26% | about the same as the US share |
| Speeding | 36% | 27% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 54% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.7% | 6.5% | above the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 16% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 1,327 | 36% |
| Pedestrian | 804 | 22% |
| Rollover | 699 | 19% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 603 | 16% |
| Other | 168 | 4.6% |
| Cyclist | 66 | 1.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 19 | 0.5% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in New Mexico
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (5,372 vehicles).
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 1,694 | 32% |
| Pickups | 1,192 | 22% |
| SUVs | 1,030 | 19% |
| Truck-tractors | 591 | 11% |
| Motorcycles | 518 | 9.6% |
| Other trucks | 210 | 3.9% |
| Vans | 128 | 2.4% |
| Buses | 9 | 0.2% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road pages for New Mexico
Every numbered road in New Mexico with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the New Mexico numbers come from
Every figure on this page is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I35 FRONTAGE" and "I-35" are the same road; frontage roads and ramps are left out of road counts). Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". The full method.