I-65 in Tennessee: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 140 fatal crashes on I-65 in Tennessee killed 157 people, the 7th most of any numbered road in Tennessee. In 2024 there were 9 fatal crashes and 10 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 7 counties of Tennessee. All fatal crashes in Tennessee.
Deaths on I-65 in Tennessee by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | 10 |
| 2023 | 12 | 14 |
| 2022 | 21 | 21 |
| 2021 | 12 | 12 |
| 2020 | 17 | 21 |
| 2019 | 16 | 17 |
| 2018 | 14 | 15 |
| 2017 | 15 | 17 |
| 2016 | 15 | 18 |
| 2015 | 9 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-65 in Tennessee: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Davidson County County had the most fatal crashes on I-65 from 2015 to 2024: 56, with 59 deaths. Davidson, Williamson and Robertson counties together held 77% of fatal crashes in I-65 in Tennessee from 2015 to 2024; the 6 listed held 97%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davidson County | 5 | 56 | 59 |
| 2 | Williamson County | 1 | 33 | 37 |
| 3 | Robertson County | 1 | 19 | 24 |
| 4 | Maury County | 0 | 10 | 11 |
| 5 | Marshall County | 2 | 9 | 11 |
| 6 | Giles County | 0 | 9 | 9 |
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 I-65 in Tennessee
The heaviest slot is Thursday, noon to 4 pm, with 10 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 am to 3 am; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 7.2 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.7%
- Feb7.9%
- Mar7.1%
- Apr9.3%
- May8.6%
- Jun10.0%
- Jul12.1%
- Aug5.7%
- Sep7.9%
- Oct12.9%
- Nov3.6%
- Dec9.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Fatal crashes per mile on I-65 in Tennessee
11.65 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 120 miles of I-65 in Tennessee, against 12.05 for all interstates in Tennessee. That ranks 3 of 6 interstates in Tennessee and 53 of 171 interstate pages on this site.
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS. Crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic.
What fatal crashes on I-65 in Tennessee first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 41%; a collision with another vehicle in 36%, a pedestrian in 9.3%, a rollover in 7.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 57 | 41% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 51 | 36% |
| Pedestrian | 13 | 9.3% |
| Rollover | 11 | 7.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 6 | 4.3% |
| Other | 2 | 1.4% |
| Cyclist | 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 I-65 in Tennessee compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 24% of fatal crashes in I-65 in Tennessee from 2015 to 2024, about the Tennessee share; speeding in 7.1%, below the Tennessee share of 17%; a hit-and-run in 3.6%, below the Tennessee share of 6.6%; 40% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Tennessee share of 49%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Tennessee. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-65 | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 29% | 43% | below the Tennessee share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.0% | 19% | below the Tennessee share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 27% | 26% | above the Tennessee share |
| A drinking driver | 24% | 25% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Speeding | 7.1% | 17% | below the Tennessee share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 40% | 49% | below the Tennessee share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.6% | 6.6% | below the Tennessee share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.4% | 15% | below the Tennessee share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 15% | 13% | above the Tennessee 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 I-65 in Tennessee
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-65 in Tennessee?
- 140 fatal crashes killed 157 people on I-65 in Tennessee from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 9 fatal crashes and 10 deaths.
- Where on I-65 in Tennessee do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Davidson County had the most fatal crashes on I-65 from 2015 to 2024: 56, with 59 deaths. Williamson County was second with 33.
- When do fatal crashes on I-65 in Tennessee happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Thursday, noon to 4 pm, with 10 fatal crashes.
- How dangerous is I-65 in Tennessee per mile?
- 11.65 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 120 miles of road, against 12.05 for all interstates in Tennessee. That ranks 3 of 6 interstates in Tennessee and 53 of 171 interstate pages on this site. FARS records crashes, not traffic, so this is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle.
Other roads in Tennessee with a page
- I-24
- I-240
- I-26
- I-40
- I-75
- I-81
- I-840
- State Highway 111
- State Highway 14
- State Highway 175
- State Highway 33
- State Highway 62
All fatal crashes in Tennessee, with every road ranked.
Where the I-65 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-65 in Tennessee. Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.