Fatal crashes in Raleigh County, West Virginia
In 2024, 23 people died in 18 fatal crashes in Raleigh County, West Virginia, up from 12 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 120 fatal crashes and 137 deaths, the 3rd most of 55 counties in West Virginia.
31.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 14.5 across West Virginia in 2024; 18.5 against 15.2 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 72,379, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in West Virginia.
Deaths in Raleigh County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18 | 23 |
| 2023 | 10 | 12 |
| 2022 | 10 | 10 |
| 2021 | 11 | 12 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 |
| 2019 | 14 | 14 |
| 2018 | 18 | 19 |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 |
| 2016 | 10 | 14 |
| 2015 | 14 | 17 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Raleigh County
I-77 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Raleigh County from 2015 to 2024: 20, with 28 deaths. The 5 roads listed held 69% of all fatal crashes in Raleigh County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 1 US route, 2 state highways. 78% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 22% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-77 | 20 | 28 | 9 | |
| 2 | State Highway 3 | 19 | 22 | 8 | |
| 3 | State Highway 16 | 19 | 20 | 1 | |
| 4 | US 19 | 16 | 19 | 5 | |
| 5 | I-64 | 9 | 11 | 4 |
Beckley had 13% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 15 of 120.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Beckley 15, Sophia 8, Beaver 8, Bradley 7, Shady Spring 7, Ghent 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 Raleigh County
120 fatal crashes in Raleigh County, West Virginia 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 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan10.0%
- Feb0.8%
- Mar10.8%
- Apr8.3%
- May5.0%
- Jun5.0%
- Jul7.5%
- Aug15.8%
- Sep8.3%
- Oct9.2%
- Nov5.8%
- Dec13.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Raleigh County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 39%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 38%, a pedestrian in 9.2%, a rollover in 6.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 47 | 39% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 45 | 38% |
| Pedestrian | 11 | 9.2% |
| Rollover | 8 | 6.7% |
| Other | 5 | 4.2% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 1.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 1.7% |
| 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 in Raleigh County compare with West Virginia
The largest difference from West Virginia: from 2015 to 2024, 38% of fatal crashes in Raleigh County were on rural roads, against 64% across West Virginia. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of West Virginia. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 120 crashes.
| Raleigh | West Virginia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 38% | 64% | below the West Virginia share |
| At or near an intersection | 13% | 12% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 32% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| A drinking driver | 20% | 27% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| Speeding | 23% | 27% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 5.8% | 4.4% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 46% | 52% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.8% | 3.3% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 13% | about the same as the West Virginia share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 8.8% | 8.7% | about the same as the West 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 Raleigh County, West Virginia
- How many people died in car accidents in Raleigh County in 2024?
- 23 people died in 18 fatal crashes in Raleigh County, West Virginia, in 2024, up from 12 in 2023. That is 31.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 14.5 across West Virginia. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Raleigh County?
- I-77 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Raleigh County from 2015 to 2024: 20, with 28 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Raleigh County involved a drinking driver?
- 24 of 120 fatal crashes in Raleigh County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 20%, against 27% across West Virginia.
Other counties in West Virginia with a page
- Kanawha County
- Berkeley County
- Cabell County
- Wood County
- Monongalia County
- Mercer County
- Wayne County
- Jefferson County
- Logan County
- Harrison County
- Nicholas County
- Putnam County
All fatal crashes in West Virginia, with every county ranked.
Where the Raleigh County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Raleigh County (county code 81). 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/west-virginia/raleigh-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”