Fatal crashes in Dare County, North Carolina
In 2024, 7 people died in 6 fatal crashes in Dare County, North Carolina, up from 6 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 39 fatal crashes and 43 deaths, the 81st most of 100 counties in North Carolina.
Deaths in Dare County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 7 |
| 2023 | 4 | 6 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 5 | 6 |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Dare County
US 158 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Dare County from 2015 to 2024: 17, with 17 deaths. The 3 roads listed held 85% of all fatal crashes in Dare County from 2015 to 2024; 2 US routes, 1 state highway. 92% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 7.7% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Nags Head 8, Kill Devil Hills 7, Kitty Hawk 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 Dare County
39 fatal crashes in Dare 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 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is June.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 7.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 10.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 7.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.1%
- Feb2.6%
- Mar7.7%
- Apr10.3%
- May10.3%
- Jun12.8%
- Jul12.8%
- Aug10.3%
- Sep7.7%
- Oct7.7%
- Nov7.7%
- Dec5.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Dare County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 36%; a pedestrian in 28%, a cyclist in 15%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 13%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 14 | 36% |
| Pedestrian | 11 | 28% |
| Cyclist | 6 | 15% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 5 | 13% |
| Rollover | 2 | 5.1% |
| Other | 1 | 2.6% |
| 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 in Dare County compare with North Carolina
The largest difference from North Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 36% of fatal crashes in Dare County were at or near an intersection, against 19% across North Carolina. Also above the North Carolina share: pedestrians. 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 39 crashes.
| Dare | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 44% | 57% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 36% | 19% | above the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 31% | 34% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 13% | 25% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 18% | 32% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 10% | 6.3% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | Not enough data | 47% | |
| Hit-and-run | 5.1% | 5.1% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 13% | 14% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 28% | 15% | above 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 Dare County, North Carolina
- How many people died in car accidents in Dare County in 2024?
- 7 people died in 6 fatal crashes in Dare County, North Carolina, in 2024, up from 6 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Dare County?
- US 158 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Dare County from 2015 to 2024: 17, with 17 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Dare County involved a drinking driver?
- 5 of 39 fatal crashes in Dare County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 13%, 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 Dare County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Dare County (county code 55). 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/dare-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”