Fatal crashes in Knox County, Tennessee
In 2024, 82 people died in 73 fatal crashes in Knox County, Tennessee, 4.7% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 611 fatal crashes and 659 deaths, the 3rd most of 95 counties in Tennessee.
16.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 16.6 across Tennessee in 2024; 13.8 against 16.8 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 506,748, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Tennessee.
Deaths in Knox County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 73 | 82 |
| 2023 | 83 | 86 |
| 2022 | 50 | 53 |
| 2021 | 71 | 77 |
| 2020 | 53 | 53 |
| 2019 | 61 | 68 |
| 2018 | 59 | 62 |
| 2017 | 46 | 54 |
| 2016 | 61 | 70 |
| 2015 | 54 | 54 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Knox County
I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Knox County from 2015 to 2024: 73, with 86 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 58% of all fatal crashes in Knox County from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 5 US routes, 7 state highways. 63% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 37% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-40 | 73 | 86 | 27 | |
| 2 | US 441 | 56 | 61 | 19 | |
| 3 | US 11 | 34 | 35 | 16 | |
| 4 | State Highway 131 | 33 | 38 | 7 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 62 | 30 | 32 | 12 | |
| 6 | US 25W | 23 | 25 | 5 | |
| 7 | US 11E | 18 | 19 | 6 | |
| 8 | State Highway 169 | 17 | 17 | 5 | no page |
| 9 | I-75 | 14 | 14 | 6 | |
| 10 | State Highway 168 | 11 | 11 | 4 | no page |
| 11 | US 11W | 11 | 11 | 5 | |
| 12 | I-275 | 9 | 9 | 1 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 331 | 9 | 9 | 3 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 332 | 8 | 8 | 5 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 162 | 7 | 8 | 2 | no page |
Knoxville had 58% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 352 of 611.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Knoxville 352, Farragut 11, Powell 8. 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 Knox County
The heaviest slot is Wednesday, 4 to 8 pm, with 28 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.1 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 22 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 14 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.8 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 20 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.2 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.6 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 22 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.0%
- Feb8.0%
- Mar8.3%
- Apr6.9%
- May8.2%
- Jun8.0%
- Jul9.3%
- Aug8.7%
- Sep8.5%
- Oct9.2%
- Nov9.3%
- Dec7.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Knox County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 44%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 32%, a pedestrian in 15%, a rollover in 4.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 271 | 44% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 197 | 32% |
| Pedestrian | 90 | 15% |
| Rollover | 25 | 4.1% |
| Other | 20 | 3.3% |
| Cyclist | 7 | 1.1% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.2% |
| 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 Knox County compare with Tennessee
The largest difference from Tennessee: from 2015 to 2024, 7.9% of fatal crashes in Knox County were on rural roads, against 43% across Tennessee. Also above the Tennessee share: intersections and speeding. Below it: distracted drivers. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Tennessee. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 611 crashes.
| Knox | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 7.9% | 43% | below the Tennessee share |
| At or near an intersection | 23% | 19% | above the Tennessee share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 23% | 26% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| A drinking driver | 25% | 25% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Speeding | 21% | 17% | above the Tennessee share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.6% | 6.7% | below the Tennessee share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 45% | 49% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.9% | 6.6% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 15% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 15% | 13% | about the same as 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 Knox County, Tennessee
- How many people died in car accidents in Knox County in 2024?
- 82 people died in 73 fatal crashes in Knox County, Tennessee, in 2024, 4.7% fewer than in 2023. That is 16.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 16.6 across Tennessee. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Knox County?
- I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Knox County from 2015 to 2024: 73, with 86 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Knox County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Wednesday, 4 to 8 pm, with 28 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Knox County involved a drinking driver?
- 151 of 611 fatal crashes in Knox County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 25%, against 25% across Tennessee.
Other counties in Tennessee with a page
- Shelby County
- Davidson County
- Hamilton County
- Rutherford County
- Montgomery County
- Wilson County
- Sullivan County
- Blount County
- Greene County
- Madison County
- Sevier County
- Williamson County
All fatal crashes in Tennessee, with every county ranked.
Where the Knox County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Knox County (county code 93). 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/tennessee/knox-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”