Fatal crashes in Providence County, Rhode Island
In 2024, 30 people died in 28 fatal crashes in Providence County, Rhode Island, 42.3% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 336 fatal crashes and 357 deaths, the most of any county in Rhode Island.
4.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 4.7 across Rhode Island in 2024; 5.5 against 5.6 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 675,912, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Rhode Island.
Deaths in Providence County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28 | 30 |
| 2023 | 48 | 52 |
| 2022 | 28 | 29 |
| 2021 | 35 | 35 |
| 2020 | 37 | 38 |
| 2019 | 33 | 36 |
| 2018 | 33 | 34 |
| 2017 | 44 | 49 |
| 2016 | 26 | 28 |
| 2015 | 24 | 26 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Providence County
I-95 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Providence County from 2015 to 2024: 31, with 32 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 52% of all fatal crashes in Providence County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 3 US routes, 10 state highways. 66% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 34% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-95 | 31 | 32 | 8 | |
| 2 | I-295 | 19 | 19 | 3 | no page |
| 3 | US 6 | 15 | 19 | 4 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 146 | 15 | 16 | 4 | no page |
| 5 | US 44 | 14 | 14 | 3 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 122 | 13 | 14 | 4 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 5 | 10 | 10 | 7 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 101 | 8 | 9 | 2 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 114 | 8 | 9 | 4 | no page |
| 10 | US 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 1A | 7 | 8 | 0 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 12 | 7 | 7 | 2 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 14 | 7 | 7 | 2 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 10 | 6 | 6 | 1 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 44 | 6 | 6 | 0 | no page |
Providence had 24% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 82 of 336.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Providence 82, Cranston 37, Pawtucket 31, East Providence 23, Johnston 22, Smithfield 22, Woonsocket 17, Scituate 11. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Providence County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 21 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 1 am to 2 am; 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 | 6.2 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.7 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.6%
- Feb4.2%
- Mar8.6%
- Apr6.8%
- May8.0%
- Jun7.4%
- Jul9.8%
- Aug11.0%
- Sep9.2%
- Oct9.8%
- Nov7.4%
- 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 in Providence County first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 36%; a collision with another vehicle in 32%, a pedestrian in 21%, a cyclist in 2.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 121 | 36% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 107 | 32% |
| Pedestrian | 72 | 21% |
| Other | 13 | 3.9% |
| Cyclist | 8 | 2.4% |
| Rollover | 8 | 2.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 7 | 2.1% |
| 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 in Providence County compare with Rhode Island
The largest difference from Rhode Island: from 2015 to 2024, 10% of fatal crashes in Providence County were on rural roads, against 19% across Rhode Island. Below the Rhode Island share: unlit roads at night. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Rhode Island. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 336 crashes.
| Providence | Rhode Island | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 10% | 19% | below the Rhode Island share |
| At or near an intersection | 24% | 21% | about the same as the Rhode Island share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 10% | 16% | below the Rhode Island share |
| A drinking driver | 38% | 39% | about the same as the Rhode Island share |
| Speeding | 45% | 44% | about the same as the Rhode Island share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 2.1% | 3.0% | about the same as the Rhode Island share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 59% | 54% | about the same as the Rhode Island share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.3% | 6.2% | about the same as the Rhode Island share |
| A motorcycle involved | 18% | 20% | about the same as the Rhode Island share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 21% | 19% | about the same as the Rhode Island 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 Providence County, Rhode Island
- How many people died in car accidents in Providence County in 2024?
- 30 people died in 28 fatal crashes in Providence County, Rhode Island, in 2024, 42.3% fewer than in 2023. That is 4.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 4.7 across Rhode Island. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Providence County?
- I-95 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Providence County from 2015 to 2024: 31, with 32 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Providence County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 21 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Providence County involved a drinking driver?
- 129 of 336 fatal crashes in Providence County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 38%, against 39% across Rhode Island.
Other counties in Rhode Island with a page
All fatal crashes in Rhode Island, with every county ranked.
Where the Providence County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Providence County (county code 7). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/rhode-island/providence-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”