US 401 in North Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 169 fatal crashes on US 401 in North Carolina killed 186 people, the 8th most of any numbered road in North Carolina. In 2024 there were 23 fatal crashes and 24 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 7 counties of North Carolina. All fatal crashes in North Carolina.
Deaths on US 401 in North Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23 | 24 |
| 2023 | 17 | 19 |
| 2022 | 11 | 12 |
| 2021 | 23 | 29 |
| 2020 | 23 | 27 |
| 2019 | 17 | 18 |
| 2018 | 15 | 16 |
| 2017 | 18 | 18 |
| 2016 | 14 | 15 |
| 2015 | 8 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 401 in North Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Wake County had the most fatal crashes on US 401 from 2015 to 2024: 54, with 60 deaths. Wake, Cumberland and Hoke counties together held 75% of fatal crashes in US 401 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024; the 6 listed held 98%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake County | 8 | 54 | 60 |
| 2 | Cumberland County | 8 | 46 | 49 |
| 3 | Hoke County | 2 | 26 | 29 |
| 4 | Franklin County | 3 | 17 | 21 |
| 5 | Harnett County | 1 | 13 | 13 |
| 6 | Scotland County | 1 | 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 401 in North Carolina
The heaviest slot is Monday, 4 to 8 pm, with 11 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 6 pm to 7 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 | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.9%
- Feb9.5%
- Mar5.3%
- Apr7.7%
- May8.3%
- Jun10.1%
- Jul8.9%
- Aug8.9%
- Sep8.3%
- Oct9.5%
- Nov8.9%
- Dec8.9%
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 401 in North Carolina first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 54%; a pedestrian in 23%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 18%, a cyclist in 2.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 92 | 54% |
| Pedestrian | 38 | 23% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 30 | 18% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 2.4% |
| Rollover | 3 | 1.8% |
| Other | 2 | 1.2% |
| 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 401 in North Carolina compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 21% of fatal crashes in US 401 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024, below the North Carolina share of 25%; speeding in 24%, below the North Carolina share of 32%; a hit-and-run in 8.9%, above the North Carolina share of 5.1%; a driver recorded as distracted in 4.1%, below the North Carolina share of 6.3%; 42% 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 401 | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 48% | 57% | below the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 33% | 19% | above the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 35% | 34% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 21% | 25% | below the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 24% | 32% | below the North Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.1% | 6.3% | below the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 42% | 47% | below the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.9% | 5.1% | above the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 14% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 20% | 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 401 in North Carolina
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 401 in North Carolina?
- 169 fatal crashes killed 186 people on US 401 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 23 fatal crashes and 24 deaths.
- Where on US 401 in North Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Wake County had the most fatal crashes on US 401 from 2015 to 2024: 54, with 60 deaths. Cumberland County was second with 46.
- When do fatal crashes on US 401 in North Carolina happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Monday, 4 to 8 pm, with 11 fatal crashes.
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 401 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 401 in North Carolina (filed under 31 spellings, such as "US-401", "US-401 B", "US-401 CAPITAL BLVD", "US-401 COUNTRY CLUB DR"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.