Fatal crashes in Burke County, North Carolina
In 2024, 18 people died in 18 fatal crashes in Burke County, North Carolina, up from 11 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 132 fatal crashes and 142 deaths, the 38th most of 100 counties in North Carolina.
20.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 14.7 across North Carolina in 2024; 16 against 14.5 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 88,545, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in North Carolina.
Deaths in Burke County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18 | 18 |
| 2023 | 9 | 11 |
| 2022 | 12 | 12 |
| 2021 | 9 | 10 |
| 2020 | 13 | 14 |
| 2019 | 16 | 16 |
| 2018 | 16 | 20 |
| 2017 | 16 | 17 |
| 2016 | 15 | 16 |
| 2015 | 8 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Burke County
I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Burke County from 2015 to 2024: 25, with 28 deaths. The 4 roads listed held 55% of all fatal crashes in Burke County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 2 US routes, 1 state highway. 64% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 36% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
Morganton had 9.8% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 13 of 132.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Morganton 13. 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 Burke County
132 fatal crashes in Burke County, North Carolina 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 2 pm to 3 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 | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.1 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan10.6%
- Feb8.3%
- Mar4.5%
- Apr3.8%
- May9.8%
- Jun6.8%
- Jul10.6%
- Aug7.6%
- Sep12.1%
- Oct9.8%
- Nov8.3%
- Dec7.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Burke County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 43%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 28%, a pedestrian in 16%, a rollover in 6.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 57 | 43% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 37 | 28% |
| Pedestrian | 21 | 16% |
| Rollover | 8 | 6.1% |
| Cyclist | 5 | 3.8% |
| Other | 3 | 2.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.8% |
| 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 Burke County compare with North Carolina
The largest difference from North Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 7.6% of fatal crashes in Burke County were at or near an intersection, against 19% across North Carolina. Also above the North Carolina share: rural roads. Below it: drinking drivers and speeding. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of North Carolina. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 132 crashes.
| Burke | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 67% | 57% | above the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 7.6% | 19% | below the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 34% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 16% | 25% | below the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 23% | 32% | below the North Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.8% | 6.3% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 40% | 47% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.8% | 5.1% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 14% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 16% | 15% | about the same as the North Carolina 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 Burke County, North Carolina
- How many people died in car accidents in Burke County in 2024?
- 18 people died in 18 fatal crashes in Burke County, North Carolina, in 2024, up from 11 in 2023. That is 20.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 14.7 across North Carolina. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Burke County?
- I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Burke County from 2015 to 2024: 25, with 28 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Burke County involved a drinking driver?
- 21 of 132 fatal crashes in Burke County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 16%, against 25% across North Carolina.
Other counties in North Carolina with a page
- Mecklenburg County
- Wake County
- Guilford County
- Robeson County
- Cumberland County
- Forsyth County
- Buncombe County
- Johnston County
- Durham County
- Davidson County
- Gaston County
- Harnett County
All fatal crashes in North Carolina, with every county ranked.
Where the Burke County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Burke County (county code 23). 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. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/north-carolina/burke-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”