I-85 in Virginia: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 57 fatal crashes on I-85 in Virginia killed 60 people. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 9 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 4 counties of Virginia. All fatal crashes in Virginia. I-85 in every state.
Deaths on I-85 in Virginia by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 9 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 |
| 2021 | 5 | 6 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 |
| 2016 | 7 | 7 |
| 2015 | 8 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-85 in Virginia: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Dinwiddie County had the most fatal crashes on I-85 from 2015 to 2024: 27, with 29 deaths. Dinwiddie, Mecklenburg and Brunswick counties together held 88% of fatal crashes in I-85 in Virginia from 2015 to 2024; the 4 listed held 100%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dinwiddie County | 4 | 27 | 29 |
| 2 | Mecklenburg County | 1 | 13 | 13 |
| 3 | Brunswick County | 2 | 10 | 11 |
| 4 | Petersburg city | 1 | 7 | 7 |
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-85 in Virginia
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 | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 7.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 7.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.8%
- Feb1.8%
- Mar7.0%
- Apr5.3%
- May7.0%
- Jun8.8%
- Jul17.5%
- Aug7.0%
- Sep8.8%
- Oct10.5%
- Nov3.5%
- Dec14.0%
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-85 in Virginia
8.25 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 69 miles of I-85 in Virginia, against 9.67 for all interstates in Virginia. That ranks 3 of 5 interstates in Virginia and 84 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-85 in Virginia first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in most fatal crashes, 65%; a collision with another vehicle in 21%, a rollover in 8.8%, a pedestrian in 1.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 37 | 65% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 12 | 21% |
| Rollover | 5 | 8.8% |
| Pedestrian | 1 | 1.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.8% |
| Other | 1 | 1.8% |
| 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-85 in Virginia compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 16% of fatal crashes in I-85 in Virginia from 2015 to 2024, below the Virginia share of 29%; speeding in 19%, below the Virginia share of 29%; a hit-and-run in 3.5%, about the Virginia share; a driver recorded as distracted in 7.0%, below the Virginia share of 11%; 62% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above the Virginia share of 55%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Virginia. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-85 | Virginia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 77% | 55% | above the Virginia share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.0% | 23% | below the Virginia share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 47% | 31% | above the Virginia share |
| A drinking driver | 16% | 29% | below the Virginia share |
| Speeding | 19% | 29% | below the Virginia share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.0% | 11% | below the Virginia share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 62% | 55% | above the Virginia share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.5% | 4.1% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| A motorcycle involved | 1.8% | 13% | below the Virginia share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 3.3% | 14% | below the Virginia 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-85 in Virginia
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-85 in Virginia?
- 57 fatal crashes killed 60 people on I-85 in Virginia from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 9 deaths.
- Where on I-85 in Virginia do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Dinwiddie County had the most fatal crashes on I-85 from 2015 to 2024: 27, with 29 deaths. Mecklenburg County was second with 13.
- How dangerous is I-85 in Virginia per mile?
- 8.25 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 69 miles of road, against 9.67 for all interstates in Virginia. That ranks 3 of 5 interstates in Virginia and 84 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 Virginia with a page
All fatal crashes in Virginia, with every road ranked.
Where the I-85 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-85 in Virginia. Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.