US 321 in North Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 88 fatal crashes on US 321 in North Carolina killed 92 people, the 18th most of any numbered road in North Carolina. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 16 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 6 counties of North Carolina. All fatal crashes in North Carolina.
Deaths on US 321 in North Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 | 16 |
| 2023 | 9 | 9 |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 |
| 2021 | 11 | 13 |
| 2020 | 6 | 7 |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 |
| 2018 | 7 | 8 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 |
| 2015 | 14 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 321 in North Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Gaston County County had the most fatal crashes on US 321 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 29 deaths. Gaston, Caldwell and Lincoln counties together held 75% of fatal crashes in US 321 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 99%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gaston County | 6 | 26 | 29 |
| 2 | Caldwell County | 5 | 26 | 27 |
| 3 | Lincoln County | 2 | 14 | 14 |
| 4 | Catawba County | 1 | 11 | 11 |
| 5 | Watauga County | 2 | 10 | 10 |
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 321 in North Carolina
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 8.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.4%
- Feb3.4%
- Mar8.0%
- Apr5.7%
- May10.2%
- Jun10.2%
- Jul8.0%
- Aug8.0%
- Sep9.1%
- Oct12.5%
- Nov14.8%
- Dec6.8%
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 321 in North Carolina 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 26%, a pedestrian in 19%, a rollover in 8.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 38 | 43% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 23 | 26% |
| Pedestrian | 17 | 19% |
| Rollover | 7 | 8.0% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 2.3% |
| Other | 1 | 1.1% |
| 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 321 in North Carolina compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 19% of fatal crashes in US 321 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024, below the North Carolina share of 25%; speeding in 26%, below the North Carolina share of 32%; a hit-and-run in 3.4%, below the North Carolina share of 5.1%; 35% 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.
| US 321 | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 64% | 57% | above the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 14% | 19% | below the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 27% | 34% | below the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 25% | below the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 26% | 32% | below the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 35% | 47% | below the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.4% | 5.1% | below the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 14% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 21% | 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 US 321 in North Carolina
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 321 in North Carolina?
- 88 fatal crashes killed 92 people on US 321 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 16 deaths.
- Where on US 321 in North Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Gaston County had the most fatal crashes on US 321 from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 29 deaths. Caldwell County was second with 26.
Other roads in North Carolina with a page
- I-40
- I-485
- I-73
- I-77
- I-85
- I-95
- State Highway 11
- State Highway 130
- State Highway 150
- State Highway 16
- State Highway 210
- State Highway 211
All fatal crashes in North Carolina, with every road ranked.
Where the US 321 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 321 in North Carolina (filed under 12 spellings, such as "US-321", "US-321 BLOWING ROCK BLVD", "US-321 GASTONIA DALLAS HWY", "US-321 GASTONIA HWY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.