US 74 in North Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 225 fatal crashes on US 74 in North Carolina killed 244 people, the 5th most of 540 numbered roads in North Carolina. In 2024 there were 24 fatal crashes and 26 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 17 counties of North Carolina. All fatal crashes in North Carolina.
Deaths on US 74 in North Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24 | 26 |
| 2023 | 23 | 23 |
| 2022 | 27 | 30 |
| 2021 | 36 | 38 |
| 2020 | 18 | 19 |
| 2019 | 18 | 20 |
| 2018 | 24 | 26 |
| 2017 | 20 | 22 |
| 2016 | 19 | 24 |
| 2015 | 16 | 16 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 74 in North Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Union County had the most fatal crashes on US 74 from 2015 to 2024: 33, with 34 deaths. Union, Columbus and Mecklenburg counties together held 39% of fatal crashes on US 74 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024; the 13 listed held 96%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union County | 4 | 33 | 34 |
| 2 | Columbus County | 0 | 29 | 33 |
| 3 | Mecklenburg County | 2 | 25 | 27 |
| 4 | Cleveland County | 0 | 23 | 24 |
| 5 | Anson County | 6 | 18 | 20 |
| 6 | Brunswick County | 2 | 16 | 16 |
| 7 | Richmond County | 4 | 15 | 20 |
| 8 | Scotland County | 1 | 15 | 17 |
| 9 | Gaston County | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| 10 | Jackson County | 0 | 9 | 11 |
| 11 | New Hanover County | 2 | 9 | 9 |
| 12 | Rutherford County | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| 13 | Polk County | 1 | 5 | 5 |
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 74 in North Carolina
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 13 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.7%
- Feb6.2%
- Mar9.3%
- Apr9.3%
- May8.4%
- Jun7.1%
- Jul6.7%
- Aug9.8%
- Sep8.0%
- Oct8.9%
- Nov9.8%
- Dec9.8%
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 74 in North Carolina first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 49%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 24%, a pedestrian in 20%, a rollover in 3.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 111 | 49% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 54 | 24% |
| Pedestrian | 46 | 20% |
| Rollover | 7 | 3.1% |
| Other | 4 | 1.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 0.9% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 0.4% |
| 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 74 in North Carolina compare with the state
The largest difference from North Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 23% of fatal crashes on US 74 in North Carolina were with speeding recorded, against 32% across North Carolina. Also above the North Carolina share: pedestrians. 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 225 crashes.
| US 74 | North Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 52% | 57% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 24% | 19% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 37% | 34% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 20% | 25% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Speeding | 23% | 32% | below the North Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.9% | 6.3% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 41% | 47% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.6% | 5.1% | about the same as the North Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 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 on US 74 in North Carolina
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 74 in North Carolina?
- 225 fatal crashes killed 244 people on US 74 in North Carolina from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 24 fatal crashes and 26 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 74 in North Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Union County had the most fatal crashes on US 74 from 2015 to 2024: 33, with 34 deaths. Columbus County was second with 29.
- When do fatal crashes on US 74 in North Carolina happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 13 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 74 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 74 in North Carolina (filed under 25 spellings, such as "US-74", "US-74 ANDREW JACKSON HWY", "US-74 ANDREW JACKSON HWY E", "US-74 ANDREW JACKSON HWY NE"). 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.