US 501 in North Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 55 fatal crashes on US 501 in North Carolina killed 63 people. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 7 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 6 counties of North Carolina. All fatal crashes in North Carolina.
Deaths on US 501 in North Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 7 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 4 | 6 |
| 2021 | 8 | 9 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 |
| 2018 | 2 | 5 |
| 2017 | 6 | 8 |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 501 in North Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Durham County County had the most fatal crashes on US 501 from 2015 to 2024: 31, with 32 deaths. Durham, Scotland and Person counties together held 85% of fatal crashes in US 501 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024; the 4 listed held 95%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham County | 5 | 31 | 32 |
| 2 | Scotland County | 1 | 8 | 11 |
| 3 | Person County | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| 4 | Robeson County | 0 | 5 | 8 |
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 501 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 | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 7.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan10.9%
- Feb5.5%
- Mar12.7%
- Apr7.3%
- May7.3%
- Jun7.3%
- Jul5.5%
- Aug9.1%
- Sep3.6%
- Oct7.3%
- Nov12.7%
- Dec10.9%
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 501 in North Carolina first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 55%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 22%, a pedestrian in 18%, a rollover in 3.6%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 30 | 55% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 12 | 22% |
| Pedestrian | 10 | 18% |
| Rollover | 2 | 3.6% |
| Other | 1 | 1.8% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 501 in North Carolina compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 26% of fatal crashes in US 501 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024, about the North Carolina share; speeding in 27%, below the North Carolina share of 32%; a hit-and-run in 3.6%, below the North Carolina share of 5.1%; 43% 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 501 | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 49% | 57% | below the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 29% | 19% | above the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 36% | 34% | above the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 26% | 25% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 27% | 32% | below the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 43% | 47% | below the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.6% | 5.1% | below the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 14% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 16% | 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 US 501 in North Carolina
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 501 in North Carolina?
- 55 fatal crashes killed 63 people on US 501 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 7 deaths.
- Where on US 501 in North Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Durham County had the most fatal crashes on US 501 from 2015 to 2024: 31, with 32 deaths. Scotland County was second with 8.
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 501 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 501 in North Carolina (filed under 12 spellings, such as "US-501", "US-501 DUKE ST", "US-501 DURHAM CHAPEL HILL BLVD", "US-501 DURHAM RD"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.