US 285 in New Mexico: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 97 fatal crashes on US 285 in New Mexico killed 104 people, the 3rd most of 206 numbered roads in New Mexico. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 18 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 10 counties of New Mexico. All fatal crashes in New Mexico.
Deaths on US 285 in New Mexico by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 | 18 |
| 2023 | 8 | 9 |
| 2022 | 11 | 11 |
| 2021 | 6 | 6 |
| 2020 | 8 | 8 |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 |
| 2018 | 13 | 15 |
| 2017 | 11 | 12 |
| 2016 | 9 | 10 |
| 2015 | 8 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 285 in New Mexico: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Chaves County had the most fatal crashes on US 285 from 2015 to 2024: 34, with 36 deaths. Chaves, Eddy and Santa Fe counties together held 74% of fatal crashes on US 285 in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024; the 4 listed held 82%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chaves County | 6 | 34 | 36 |
| 2 | Eddy County | 4 | 29 | 34 |
| 3 | Santa Fe County | 2 | 9 | 9 |
| 4 | Torrance County | 0 | 8 | 8 |
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 285 in New Mexico
97 fatal crashes on US 285 in New Mexico 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 7 am to 8 am; 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 | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.1%
- Feb11.3%
- Mar5.2%
- Apr6.2%
- May7.2%
- Jun5.2%
- Jul9.3%
- Aug7.2%
- Sep12.4%
- Oct11.3%
- Nov10.3%
- Dec10.3%
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 285 in New Mexico first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 57%; a rollover in 24%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 10%, a pedestrian in 7.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 55 | 57% |
| Rollover | 23 | 24% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 10 | 10% |
| Pedestrian | 7 | 7.2% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.0% |
| Other | 1 | 1.0% |
| 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 285 in New Mexico compare with the state
The largest difference from New Mexico: from 2015 to 2024, 88% of fatal crashes on US 285 in New Mexico were on rural roads, against 55% across New Mexico. Also above the New Mexico share: intersections and distracted drivers. Below it: hit-and-runs, motorcycles and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of New Mexico. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 97 crashes.
| US 285 | New Mexico | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 88% | 55% | above the New Mexico share |
| At or near an intersection | 35% | 22% | above the New Mexico share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 33% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 26% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| Speeding | 29% | 36% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 56% | 39% | above the New Mexico share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 56% | 54% | about the same as the New Mexico share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.1% | 8.7% | below the New Mexico share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.2% | 14% | below the New Mexico share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 6.7% | 21% | below 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 on US 285 in New Mexico
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 285 in New Mexico?
- 97 fatal crashes killed 104 people on US 285 in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 18 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 285 in New Mexico do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Chaves County had the most fatal crashes on US 285 from 2015 to 2024: 34, with 36 deaths. Eddy County was second with 29.
Other roads in New Mexico with a page
All fatal crashes in New Mexico, with every road ranked.
Where the US 285 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 285 in New Mexico (filed under 9 spellings, such as "US-285", "US-285 1ST ST", "US-285 ROSWELL HWY", "US-285 S MAIN ST"). 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.