US 78 in Tennessee: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 62 fatal crashes on US 78 in Tennessee killed 65 people. In 2024 there were 4 fatal crashes and 4 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 1 county of Tennessee. All fatal crashes in Tennessee.
Deaths on US 78 in Tennessee by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 4 | 4 |
| 2016 | 8 | 9 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 |
| 2020 | 8 | 9 |
| 2021 | 8 | 8 |
| 2022 | 5 | 5 |
| 2023 | 11 | 12 |
| 2024 | 4 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 78 in Tennessee: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Shelby County had the most fatal crashes on US 78 from 2015 to 2024: 62, with 65 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shelby | 4 | 62 | 65 |
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 78 in Tennessee
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 6.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 8.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 8.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.7%
- Feb6.5%
- Mar4.8%
- Apr4.8%
- May4.8%
- Jun8.1%
- Jul9.7%
- Aug12.9%
- Sep4.8%
- Oct17.7%
- Nov11.3%
- Dec4.8%
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 78 in Tennessee first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 37 | 60% |
| Pedestrian | 14 | 23% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 7 | 11% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 3.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.6% |
| Other | 1 | 1.6% |
| Rollover | 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 US 78 in Tennessee compare with the state
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Tennessee. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 78 | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 0.0% | 43% | below the Tennessee share |
| At or near an intersection | 39% | 19% | above the Tennessee share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 15% | 26% | below the Tennessee share |
| A drinking driver | 21% | 25% | below the Tennessee share |
| Speeding | 18% | 17% | above the Tennessee share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 48% | 49% | about the same as the Tennessee share |
| Hit-and-run | 19% | 6.6% | above the Tennessee share |
| A motorcycle involved | 9.7% | 15% | below the Tennessee share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 23% | 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
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 78 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 78 in Tennessee (filed under 4 spellings, such as "US-78 SR-278", "US-78 SR-278 DR MLK JR AVE", "US-78 SR-4 LAMAR", "US-78 SR-4 LAMAR AVE"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.