Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the most motor vehicle accident fatalities in Kentucky

Media outlets were quick during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdowns that defined the summer and fall of 2020 to note just how little traffic there was as a result. Simple logic would suggest that less traffic equals a lower likelihood of accidents and thus fewer injuries and fatalities. Sadly, this was not the case.

Nationwide, traffic fatalities rose 7.2% in 2020 to nearly 39,000. That number was the highest recorded since 2007. Qualifying this disturbing fact is a sticky wicket—common denominators behind traffic deaths such as impaired driving, failure to use a seat belt, and excessive speed were certainly contributing factors, but they alone do not account for a rise in deaths commensurate with a 430-million-mile drop in the number of miles people traveled across the course of the year. What can be qualified, however, is where fatal crashes took place.

Citing data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Stacker identified the counties in Kentucky that had the most fatalities from motor vehicle crashes in 2020. The number of accident fatalities are ranked by the number of deaths per 100,000 people, with the raw number functioning as a tiebreaker. The analysis only looked at counties with at least five deaths during 2020. Additional data is included on pedestrian, bicyclist, and drunk-driving-related deaths. In counties where at least five fatalities happened on the same street or interstate, the road with the most deaths is also included.

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Oldham County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 8.9 per 100K people (#1,449 nationally, 6 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 4 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Shelby County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 10.5 per 100K people (#1,353 nationally, 5 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 0 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

OPMaster // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Warren County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 11.3 per 100K people (#1,301 nationally, 15 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 1 death involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Boyd County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 12.4 per 100K people (#1,218 nationally, 6 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 2 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Jim.henderson // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Hopkins County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 13.2 per 100K people (#1,176 nationally, 6 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 1 bicyclist death
– 1 death involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Boone County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 13.4 per 100K people (#1,158 nationally, 18 deaths)
– 4 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 7 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Paul Sableman // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Graves County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 13.6 per 100K people (#1,145 nationally, 5 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 1 death involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Clark County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 13.6 per 100K people (#1,144 nationally, 5 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 0 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Hardin County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 14.5 per 100K people (#1,086 nationally, 16 deaths)
– 2 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 2 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Madison County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 15.2 per 100K people (#1,028 nationally, 14 deaths)
– 2 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 3 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

w.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Henderson County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 15.5 per 100K people (#1,007 nationally, 7 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 0 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Chris Watson // Wikicommons

#39. Jefferson County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 15.9 per 100K people (#981 nationally, 124 deaths)
– 32 pedestrian deaths
– 1 bicyclist death
– 41 deaths involving drunk drivers
– Road with most fatalities: US-31 (8 fatalities)

Rdikeman // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Campbell County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 16.1 per 100K people (#969 nationally, 15 deaths)
– 5 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 2 deaths involving drunk drivers
– Road with most fatalities: SR-9 (5 fatalities)

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Jessamine County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 17.0 per 100K people (#914 nationally, 9 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 3 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Bullitt County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 17.1 per 100K people (#907 nationally, 14 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 2 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Scott County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 17.8 per 100K people (#871 nationally, 10 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 2 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Christian County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 18.0 per 100K people (#862 nationally, 13 deaths)
– 3 pedestrian deaths
– 1 bicyclist death
– 4 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Murray State // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Calloway County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 18.8 per 100K people (#824 nationally, 7 deaths)
– 3 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 0 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Chris Light // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Nelson County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 19.4 per 100K people (#788 nationally, 9 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 4 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Pulaski County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 20.1 per 100K people (#749 nationally, 13 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 1 death involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Barren County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 20.3 per 100K people (#740 nationally, 9 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 1 death involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#29. McCracken County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 20.8 per 100K people (#722 nationally, 14 deaths)
– 2 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 3 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Laurel County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 20.9 per 100K people (#721 nationally, 13 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 3 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Bedford // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Logan County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 22.0 per 100K people (#678 nationally, 6 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 4 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Marshall County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 22.1 per 100K people (#672 nationally, 7 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 4 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Grayson County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 22.8 per 100K people (#654 nationally, 6 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 2 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Pike County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 23.8 per 100K people (#619 nationally, 14 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 5 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Bell County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 24.3 per 100K people (#605 nationally, 6 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 1 death involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Hunter Hawley // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Breckinridge County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 24.6 per 100K people (#593 nationally, 5 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 3 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Russell County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 27.9 per 100K people (#481 nationally, 5 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 2 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Allen County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 29.1 per 100K people (#435 nationally, 6 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 3 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Kybluegrass // Wikimedia Commons

#19. McCreary County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 29.3 per 100K people (#429 nationally, 5 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 4 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

No machine-readable author provided. Blinutne assumed (based on copyright claims). // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Whitley County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 30.1 per 100K people (#413 nationally, 11 deaths)
– 2 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 0 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Meade County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 30.3 per 100K people (#408 nationally, 9 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 3 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Floyd County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 30.4 per 100K people (#404 nationally, 11 deaths)
– 3 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 1 death involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Perry County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 31.7 per 100K people (#384 nationally, 9 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 3 deaths involving drunk drivers
– Road with most fatalities: SR-15 (5 fatalities)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Clay County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 34.2 per 100K people (#331 nationally, 7 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 2 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Joel Bradshaw // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Ohio County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 37.7 per 100K people (#264 nationally, 9 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 3 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Jackson County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 38.4 per 100K people (#256 nationally, 5 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 1 death involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Grant County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 40.1 per 100K people (#239 nationally, 10 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 3 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Letcher County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 41.3 per 100K people (#227 nationally, 9 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 1 death involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Hart County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 41.7 per 100K people (#224 nationally, 8 deaths)
– 2 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 3 deaths involving drunk drivers
– Road with most fatalities: I-65 (5 fatalities)

verygreen // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Rockcastle County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 43.3 per 100K people (#211 nationally, 7 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 0 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Bourbon County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 44.4 per 100K people (#194 nationally, 9 deaths)
– 1 pedestrian death
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 3 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Harlan County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 44.6 per 100K people (#193 nationally, 12 deaths)
– 2 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 5 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

C. Bedford Crenshaw // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Lewis County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 45.8 per 100K people (#179 nationally, 6 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 1 death involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Wdzinc // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Marion County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 46.0 per 100K people (#175 nationally, 9 deaths)
– 2 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 6 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Leslie County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 47.1 per 100K people (#162 nationally, 5 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 4 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Larue County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 47.4 per 100K people (#159 nationally, 7 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 0 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Washington County, Kentucky

– Motor vehicle crash fatalities: 58.5 per 100K people (#92 nationally, 7 deaths)
– 0 pedestrian deaths
– 0 bicyclist deaths
– 2 deaths involving drunk drivers
– No roads with at least five fatalities