I-85 in North Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 309 fatal crashes on I-85 in North Carolina killed 337 people, the 2nd most of any numbered road in North Carolina. In 2024 there were 35 fatal crashes and 36 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 14 counties of North Carolina. All fatal crashes in North Carolina.
Deaths on I-85 in North Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 35 | 36 |
| 2023 | 33 | 38 |
| 2022 | 38 | 41 |
| 2021 | 41 | 44 |
| 2020 | 23 | 25 |
| 2019 | 22 | 22 |
| 2018 | 33 | 38 |
| 2017 | 29 | 32 |
| 2016 | 34 | 37 |
| 2015 | 21 | 24 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-85 in North Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Mecklenburg County County had the most fatal crashes on I-85 from 2015 to 2024: 68, with 75 deaths. Mecklenburg, Davidson and Gaston counties together held 44% of fatal crashes in I-85 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024; the 14 listed held 100%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mecklenburg County | 8 | 68 | 75 |
| 2 | Davidson County | 5 | 35 | 38 |
| 3 | Gaston County | 5 | 33 | 33 |
| 4 | Guilford County | 3 | 32 | 34 |
| 5 | Granville County | 3 | 26 | 28 |
| 6 | Cabarrus County | 2 | 24 | 29 |
| 7 | Rowan County | 3 | 23 | 23 |
| 8 | Durham County | 1 | 16 | 17 |
| 9 | Orange County | 0 | 12 | 15 |
| 10 | Randolph County | 2 | 11 | 11 |
| 11 | Cleveland County | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| 12 | Vance County | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| 13 | Warren County | 1 | 6 | 9 |
| 14 | Alamance County | 2 | 5 | 7 |
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 I-85 in North Carolina
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 17 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 am to 3 am; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.2 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 3.6 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 4.5 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.4%
- Feb5.8%
- Mar5.2%
- Apr9.4%
- May11.0%
- Jun9.1%
- Jul9.1%
- Aug7.1%
- Sep8.4%
- Oct8.7%
- Nov11.0%
- Dec7.8%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Fatal crashes per mile on I-85 in North Carolina
15.15 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 204 miles of I-85 in North Carolina, against 9.84 for all interstates in North Carolina. That ranks 1 of 5 interstates in North Carolina and 28 of 171 interstate pages on this site.
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS. Crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic.
What fatal crashes on I-85 in North Carolina first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 45%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a pedestrian in 15%, a rollover in 6.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 138 | 45% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 84 | 27% |
| Pedestrian | 47 | 15% |
| Rollover | 19 | 6.1% |
| Parked vehicle | 12 | 3.9% |
| Other | 7 | 2.3% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 0.6% |
| 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 I-85 in North Carolina compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 25% of fatal crashes in I-85 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024, about the North Carolina share; speeding in 36%, above the North Carolina share of 32%; a hit-and-run in 7.1%, above the North Carolina share of 5.1%; 41% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the North Carolina share of 47%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of North Carolina. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-85 | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 29% | 57% | below the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.6% | 19% | below the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 42% | 34% | above the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 25% | 25% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 36% | 32% | above the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 41% | 47% | below the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.1% | 5.1% | above the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.8% | 14% | below the North Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 18% | 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 I-85 in North Carolina
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-85 in North Carolina?
- 309 fatal crashes killed 337 people on I-85 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 35 fatal crashes and 36 deaths.
- Where on I-85 in North Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Mecklenburg County had the most fatal crashes on I-85 from 2015 to 2024: 68, with 75 deaths. Davidson County was second with 35.
- When do fatal crashes on I-85 in North Carolina happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 17 fatal crashes.
- How dangerous is I-85 in North Carolina per mile?
- 15.15 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 204 miles of road, against 9.84 for all interstates in North Carolina. That ranks 1 of 5 interstates in North Carolina and 28 of 171 interstate pages on this site. FARS records crashes, not traffic, so this is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle.
Other roads in North Carolina with a page
- I-40
- I-485
- I-73
- I-77
- I-95
- State Highway 11
- State Highway 130
- State Highway 150
- State Highway 16
- State Highway 210
- State Highway 211
- State Highway 24
All fatal crashes in North Carolina, with every road ranked.
Where the I-85 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-85 in North Carolina (filed under 17 spellings, such as "I-85", "I-85 / US-52", "I-85 B", "I-85 JEFF GORDON EXPRESSWAY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.