US 601 in North Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 57 fatal crashes on US 601 in North Carolina killed 65 people, the 34th most of 540 numbered roads in North Carolina. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 7 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 6 counties of North Carolina. All fatal crashes in North Carolina.
Deaths on US 601 in North Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 7 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 7 | 8 |
| 2021 | 6 | 9 |
| 2020 | 6 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 | 3 |
| 2016 | 9 | 10 |
| 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 601 in North Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Union County had the most fatal crashes on US 601 from 2015 to 2024: 15, with 17 deaths. Union, Rowan and Cabarrus counties together held 63% of fatal crashes on US 601 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union County | 3 | 15 | 17 |
| 2 | Rowan County | 1 | 11 | 14 |
| 3 | Cabarrus County | 3 | 10 | 10 |
| 4 | Surry County | 0 | 8 | 10 |
| 5 | Davie County | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| 6 | Yadkin County | 0 | 5 | 6 |
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 601 in North Carolina
57 fatal crashes on US 601 in 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 January.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan14.0%
- Feb1.8%
- Mar3.5%
- Apr5.3%
- May10.5%
- Jun5.3%
- Jul14.0%
- Aug8.8%
- Sep5.3%
- Oct10.5%
- Nov10.5%
- Dec10.5%
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 601 in North Carolina first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 58%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 21%, a pedestrian in 11%, a rollover in 7.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 33 | 58% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 12 | 21% |
| Pedestrian | 6 | 11% |
| Rollover | 4 | 7.0% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.8% |
| Other | 1 | 1.8% |
| 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 on US 601 in North Carolina compare with the state
The largest difference from North Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 16% of fatal crashes on US 601 in North Carolina were with speeding recorded, against 32% across North Carolina. Below the North Carolina share: drinking drivers. 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 57 crashes.
| US 601 | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 60% | 57% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 19% | 19% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 34% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 14% | 25% | below the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 16% | 32% | below the North Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 1.8% | 6.3% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 42% | 47% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.0% | 5.1% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 14% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.2% | 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 on US 601 in North Carolina
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 601 in North Carolina?
- 57 fatal crashes killed 65 people on US 601 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 7 fatal crashes and 7 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 601 in North Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Union County had the most fatal crashes on US 601 from 2015 to 2024: 15, with 17 deaths. Rowan County was second with 11.
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 601 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 601 in North Carolina (filed under 10 spellings, such as "US-601", "US-601 CONCORD HWY", "US-601 JAKE ALEXANDER BLVD", "US-601 NORTH STATE ST"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.