US 17 in Virginia: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 164 fatal crashes on US 17 in Virginia killed 172 people, the 8th most of any numbered road in Virginia. In 2024 there were 26 fatal crashes and 27 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 14 counties of Virginia. All fatal crashes in Virginia.
Deaths on US 17 in Virginia by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26 | 27 |
| 2023 | 20 | 20 |
| 2022 | 23 | 25 |
| 2021 | 15 | 15 |
| 2020 | 12 | 13 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 |
| 2018 | 13 | 13 |
| 2017 | 16 | 17 |
| 2016 | 12 | 12 |
| 2015 | 17 | 19 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 17 in Virginia: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Gloucester County County had the most fatal crashes on US 17 from 2015 to 2024: 30, with 30 deaths. Gloucester, Fauquier and Newport News city together held 46% of fatal crashes in US 17 in Virginia from 2015 to 2024; the 12 listed held 97%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gloucester County | 6 | 30 | 30 |
| 2 | Fauquier County | 3 | 26 | 29 |
| 3 | Newport News city | 2 | 19 | 19 |
| 4 | Chesapeake city | 1 | 14 | 14 |
| 5 | Essex County | 5 | 13 | 14 |
| 6 | Stafford County | 0 | 12 | 13 |
| 7 | Isle of Wight County | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| 8 | York County | 3 | 9 | 9 |
| 9 | Portsmouth city | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | Spotsylvania County | 3 | 8 | 8 |
| 11 | Caroline County | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 12 | Suffolk city | 0 | 5 | 6 |
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 17 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 | 4.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 3.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.3%
- Feb6.1%
- Mar6.7%
- Apr4.9%
- May11.6%
- Jun12.8%
- Jul6.7%
- Aug9.1%
- Sep6.7%
- Oct12.2%
- Nov9.1%
- Dec6.7%
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 17 in Virginia first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 49%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 23%, a pedestrian in 18%, a rollover in 3.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 81 | 49% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 38 | 23% |
| Pedestrian | 30 | 18% |
| Rollover | 6 | 3.7% |
| Other | 5 | 3.0% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 1.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.6% |
| 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 17 in Virginia compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 25% of fatal crashes in US 17 in Virginia from 2015 to 2024, below the Virginia share of 29%; speeding in 24%, below the Virginia share of 29%; a hit-and-run in 4.9%, about the Virginia share; a driver recorded as distracted in 15%, above the Virginia share of 11%; 53% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below 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.
| US 17 | Virginia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 54% | 55% | below the Virginia share |
| At or near an intersection | 43% | 23% | above the Virginia share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 31% | below the Virginia share |
| A drinking driver | 25% | 29% | below the Virginia share |
| Speeding | 24% | 29% | below the Virginia share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 15% | 11% | above the Virginia share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 53% | 55% | below the Virginia share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.9% | 4.1% | about the same as the Virginia share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 13% | above the Virginia share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 19% | 14% | above 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 US 17 in Virginia
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 17 in Virginia?
- 164 fatal crashes killed 172 people on US 17 in Virginia from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 26 fatal crashes and 27 deaths.
- Where on US 17 in Virginia do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Gloucester County had the most fatal crashes on US 17 from 2015 to 2024: 30, with 30 deaths. Fauquier County was second with 26.
Other roads in Virginia with a page
All fatal crashes in Virginia, with every road ranked.
Where the US 17 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 17 in Virginia (filed under 8 spellings, such as "US-17", "US-17 DOMINION BLVD", "US-17 GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORI", "US-17 JAMES RIVER BRIDGE"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.