Fatal crashes in Bernalillo County, New Mexico
In 2024, 117 people died in 112 fatal crashes in Bernalillo County, 1.7% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 988 fatal crashes and 1,043 deaths, the most of any county in New Mexico.
17.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 19.2 across New Mexico in 2024; 15.4 against 19.4 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 671,747, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in New Mexico.
Deaths in Bernalillo County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 112 | 117 |
| 2023 | 112 | 115 |
| 2022 | 102 | 109 |
| 2021 | 134 | 142 |
| 2020 | 104 | 109 |
| 2019 | 100 | 104 |
| 2018 | 87 | 92 |
| 2017 | 83 | 91 |
| 2016 | 95 | 100 |
| 2015 | 59 | 64 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Bernalillo County
I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Bernalillo County from 2015 to 2024: 103, with 112 deaths. The 12 roads listed held 37% of all fatal crashes in Bernalillo County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 10 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes with 5 or more fatal crashes in the county; county roads and city streets are in the county's total but not listed.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-40 | 103 | 112 | 36 | |
| 2 | State Highway 45 | 87 | 90 | 20 | |
| 3 | I-25 | 60 | 65 | 24 | |
| 4 | State Highway 556 | 25 | 27 | 13 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 500 | 23 | 25 | 6 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 423 | 17 | 17 | 5 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 47 | 13 | 13 | 3 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 345 | 11 | 12 | 6 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 337 | 10 | 10 | 5 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 528 | 7 | 7 | 1 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 333 | 6 | 6 | 1 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 448 | 5 | 6 | 2 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Albuquerque 878, Tijeras 13, Sandia Park 5. 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 Bernalillo County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, 8 pm to midnight, with 52 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 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 | 4.1 percent, 41 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 52 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 32 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 50 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.4 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 37 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 32 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 32 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.9 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 49 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 49 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.0 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 46 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.9%
- Feb7.5%
- Mar8.0%
- Apr7.6%
- May8.6%
- Jun8.1%
- Jul8.9%
- Aug9.3%
- Sep8.9%
- Oct9.2%
- Nov8.2%
- Dec7.8%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Bernalillo County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 38%; a pedestrian in 37%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 13%, a rollover in 5.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 371 | 38% |
| Pedestrian | 366 | 37% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 131 | 13% |
| Rollover | 58 | 5.9% |
| Cyclist | 31 | 3.1% |
| Other | 27 | 2.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 0.4% |
| 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 in Bernalillo County compare with New Mexico
A drinking driver was recorded in 23% of fatal crashes in Bernalillo County from 2015 to 2024, below the New Mexico share of 26%; speeding in 33%, below the New Mexico share of 36%; a hit-and-run in 17%, above the New Mexico share of 8.7%; a driver recorded as distracted in 32%, below the New Mexico share of 39%; 52% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the New Mexico share of 54%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of New Mexico. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Bernalillo | New Mexico | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 8.8% | 55% | below the New Mexico share |
| At or near an intersection | 42% | 22% | above the New Mexico share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 24% | 33% | below the New Mexico share |
| A drinking driver | 23% | 26% | below the New Mexico share |
| Speeding | 33% | 36% | below the New Mexico share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 32% | 39% | below the New Mexico share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 52% | 54% | below the New Mexico share |
| Hit-and-run | 17% | 8.7% | above the New Mexico share |
| A motorcycle involved | 18% | 14% | above the New Mexico share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 36% | 21% | above the New Mexico 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 Bernalillo County
- How many people died in car accidents in Bernalillo County in 2024?
- 117 people died in 112 fatal crashes in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, in 2024, 1.7% more than in 2023. That is 17.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 19.2 across New Mexico.
- What is the deadliest road in Bernalillo County?
- I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Bernalillo County from 2015 to 2024: 103, with 112 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Bernalillo County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, 8 pm to midnight, with 52 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Bernalillo County involved a drinking driver?
- 229 of 988 fatal crashes in Bernalillo County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 23%, against 26% across New Mexico.
Other counties in New Mexico with a page
- San Juan County
- McKinley County
- Doña Ana County
- Santa Fe County
- Lea County
- Sandoval County
- Eddy County
- Cibola County
- Chaves County
- Rio Arriba County
- Valencia County
- Torrance County
All fatal crashes in New Mexico, with every county ranked.
Where the Bernalillo County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Bernalillo County (county code 1). 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. The full method.