US 51 in Tennessee: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 137 fatal crashes on US 51 in Tennessee killed 142 people, the 8th most of 396 numbered roads in Tennessee. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 17 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 5 counties of Tennessee. All fatal crashes in Tennessee.
Deaths on US 51 in Tennessee by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 | 17 |
| 2023 | 12 | 12 |
| 2022 | 19 | 19 |
| 2021 | 18 | 19 |
| 2020 | 14 | 16 |
| 2019 | 8 | 8 |
| 2018 | 19 | 20 |
| 2017 | 8 | 8 |
| 2016 | 10 | 10 |
| 2015 | 13 | 13 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 51 in Tennessee: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Shelby County had the most fatal crashes on US 51 from 2015 to 2024: 87, with 91 deaths. Shelby, Tipton and Lauderdale counties together held 86% of fatal crashes on US 51 in Tennessee from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shelby County | 9 | 87 | 91 |
| 2 | Tipton County | 3 | 16 | 17 |
| 3 | Lauderdale County | 2 | 15 | 15 |
| 4 | Dyer County | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| 5 | Obion County | 2 | 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 US 51 in Tennessee
136 fatal crashes on US 51 in 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 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is June.
| 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 | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan2.9%
- Feb5.1%
- Mar8.8%
- Apr8.0%
- May10.9%
- Jun12.4%
- Jul10.2%
- Aug9.5%
- Sep6.6%
- Oct12.4%
- Nov6.6%
- Dec6.6%
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 51 in Tennessee first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 42%; a pedestrian in 28%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 21%, a rollover in 4.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 58 | 42% |
| Pedestrian | 38 | 28% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 29 | 21% |
| Rollover | 6 | 4.4% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 2.2% |
| Other | 2 | 1.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.7% |
| 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 51 in Tennessee compare with the state
The largest difference from Tennessee: from 2015 to 2024, 20% of fatal crashes on US 51 in Tennessee were on rural roads, against 43% across Tennessee. Also above the Tennessee share: intersections, hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Below it: unlit roads at night, drinking drivers and speeding. 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 137 crashes.
| US 51 | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 20% | 43% | below the Tennessee share |
| At or near an intersection | 32% | 19% | above the Tennessee share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 18% | 26% | below the Tennessee share |
| A drinking driver | 16% | 25% | below the Tennessee share |
| Speeding | 8.0% | 17% | below the Tennessee share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.5% | 6.7% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 50% | 49% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Hit-and-run | 15% | 6.6% | above the Tennessee share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 15% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 29% | 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 on US 51 in Tennessee
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 51 in Tennessee?
- 137 fatal crashes killed 142 people on US 51 in Tennessee from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 16 fatal crashes and 17 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 51 in Tennessee do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Shelby County had the most fatal crashes on US 51 from 2015 to 2024: 87, with 91 deaths. Tipton County was second with 16.
Other roads in Tennessee with a page
- I-24
- I-240
- I-26
- I-40
- I-65
- I-75
- I-81
- I-840
- State Highway 111
- State Highway 14
- State Highway 175
- State Highway 33
All fatal crashes in Tennessee, with every road ranked.
Where the US 51 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 51 in Tennessee (filed under 16 spellings, such as "US-51 SR-1", "US-51 SR-3", "US-51 SR-3 ELVIS PRESLEY BLVD", "US-51 SR-3 HWY 51N"). 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.