Fatal crashes in Lincoln County, North Carolina
In 2024, 7 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Lincoln County, North Carolina, down from 14 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 119 fatal crashes and 127 deaths, the 45th most of 100 counties in North Carolina.
Deaths in Lincoln County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 7 |
| 2023 | 14 | 14 |
| 2022 | 11 | 12 |
| 2021 | 11 | 13 |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 |
| 2019 | 11 | 14 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 |
| 2017 | 13 | 14 |
| 2016 | 14 | 14 |
| 2015 | 19 | 19 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Lincoln County
US 321 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Lincoln County from 2015 to 2024: 14, with 14 deaths. The 6 roads listed held 45% of all fatal crashes in Lincoln County from 2015 to 2024; 1 US route, 5 state highways. 56% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 44% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 321 | 14 | 14 | 6 | |
| 2 | State Highway 27 | 13 | 18 | 4 | |
| 3 | State Highway 150 | 8 | 8 | 1 | |
| 4 | State Highway 16 | 7 | 7 | 1 | |
| 5 | State Highway 73 | 7 | 7 | 2 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 182 | 5 | 6 | 1 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Lincolnton 9. 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 Lincoln County
119 fatal crashes in Lincoln 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 5 pm to 6 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 | 3.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.7%
- Feb10.9%
- Mar4.2%
- Apr10.1%
- May9.2%
- Jun11.8%
- Jul8.4%
- Aug9.2%
- Sep7.6%
- Oct5.9%
- Nov9.2%
- Dec6.7%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Lincoln County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 50%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 31%, a pedestrian in 7.6%, a rollover in 7.6%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 60 | 50% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 37 | 31% |
| Pedestrian | 9 | 7.6% |
| Rollover | 9 | 7.6% |
| Other | 3 | 2.5% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 0.8% |
| 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 Lincoln County compare with North Carolina
The largest difference from North Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 79% of fatal crashes in Lincoln County were on rural roads, against 57% across North Carolina. Below the North Carolina share: unbelted occupants. 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 119 crashes.
| Lincoln | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 79% | 57% | above the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 19% | 19% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 31% | 34% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 29% | 25% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 35% | 32% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.4% | 6.3% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 37% | 47% | below the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.7% | 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 | 8.7% | 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 Lincoln County, North Carolina
- How many people died in car accidents in Lincoln County in 2024?
- 7 people died in 7 fatal crashes in Lincoln County, North Carolina, in 2024, down from 14 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Lincoln County?
- US 321 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Lincoln County from 2015 to 2024: 14, with 14 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Lincoln County involved a drinking driver?
- 34 of 119 fatal crashes in Lincoln County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 29%, 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 Lincoln County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Lincoln County (county code 109). 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/lincoln-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”