Fatal crashes in Putnam County, Tennessee
In 2024, 10 people died in 9 fatal crashes in Putnam County, Tennessee, down from 16 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 121 fatal crashes and 135 deaths, the 22nd most of 95 counties in Tennessee.
11.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 16.6 across Tennessee in 2024; 16.9 against 16.8 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 84,894, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Tennessee.
Deaths in Putnam County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | 10 |
| 2023 | 14 | 16 |
| 2022 | 18 | 19 |
| 2021 | 17 | 19 |
| 2020 | 10 | 11 |
| 2019 | 13 | 14 |
| 2018 | 14 | 15 |
| 2017 | 8 | 9 |
| 2016 | 13 | 17 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Putnam County
I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Putnam County from 2015 to 2024: 28, with 32 deaths. The 6 roads listed held 62% of all fatal crashes in Putnam County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 US route, 4 state highways. 69% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 31% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-40 | 28 | 32 | 7 | |
| 2 | US 70N | 15 | 15 | 5 | no page |
| 3 | State Highway 135 | 11 | 13 | 1 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 111 | 8 | 10 | 4 | |
| 5 | State Highway 136 | 7 | 8 | 2 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 62 | 6 | 8 | 3 |
Cookeville had 29% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 35 of 121.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Cookeville 35, Monterey 6. 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 Putnam County
115 fatal crashes in Putnam County, Tennessee 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 noon to 1 pm; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.6%
- Feb8.3%
- Mar8.3%
- Apr10.7%
- May13.2%
- Jun6.6%
- Jul5.0%
- Aug7.4%
- Sep10.7%
- Oct5.0%
- Nov9.9%
- Dec8.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Putnam County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 41%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 38%, a rollover in 8.3%, a pedestrian in 7.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 50 | 41% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 46 | 38% |
| Rollover | 10 | 8.3% |
| Pedestrian | 9 | 7.4% |
| Other | 4 | 3.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 1.7% |
| 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 in Putnam County compare with Tennessee
The largest difference from Tennessee: from 2015 to 2024, pedestrians were 6.7% of the dead in Putnam County, against 13% across Tennessee. 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 121 crashes.
| Putnam | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 49% | 43% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| At or near an intersection | 13% | 19% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 26% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| A drinking driver | 29% | 25% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Speeding | 14% | 17% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.1% | 6.7% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 43% | 49% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.1% | 6.6% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| A motorcycle involved | 19% | 15% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 6.7% | 13% | below 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 Putnam County, Tennessee
- How many people died in car accidents in Putnam County in 2024?
- 10 people died in 9 fatal crashes in Putnam County, Tennessee, in 2024, down from 16 in 2023. That is 11.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 16.6 across Tennessee. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Putnam County?
- I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Putnam County from 2015 to 2024: 28, with 32 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Putnam County involved a drinking driver?
- 35 of 121 fatal crashes in Putnam County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 29%, against 25% across Tennessee.
Other counties in Tennessee with a page
- Shelby County
- Davidson County
- Knox County
- Hamilton County
- Rutherford County
- Montgomery County
- Wilson County
- Sullivan County
- Blount County
- Greene County
- Madison County
- Sevier County
All fatal crashes in Tennessee, with every county ranked.
Where the Putnam County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Putnam County (county code 141). 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/putnam-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”