Fatal Roads

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Arkansas · county

Johnson County

Residents 26,172Deaths 2024 5Deaths 2015–2024 44Latest data year 2024

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.

NHTSA's FARS file lists 44 people killed in 39 fatal crashes in Johnson County, Arkansas, between 2015 and 2024, 5 of them in 2024.

With 26,172 residents, that is 16.8 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, close to the Arkansas rate of 19.3 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 15% from 52 in 2005–2014 to 44 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is speeding: 20.5% against 22.2% for Arkansas.

44% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Saturday was the most common day (23%).

5deaths in 20245 fatal crashes
26deaths, 2020–202444 over ten years
16.8per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 19.1
-13%vs Arkansas ratestate 19.3 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0611197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 6 deaths1976: 4 deaths1977: 4 deaths1978: 1–2 deaths1979: 7 deaths1980: 5 deaths1981: 4 deaths1982: 5 deaths1983: 7 deaths1984: 8 deaths1985: 5 deaths1986: 3 deaths1987: 1–2 deaths1988: 6 deaths1989: 4 deaths1990: 10 deaths1991: 7 deaths1992: 6 deaths1993: 4 deaths1994: 7 deaths1995: 1–2 deaths1996: 5 deaths1997: 5 deaths1998: 4 deaths1999: 11 deaths2000: 6 deaths2001: 3 deaths2002: 8 deaths2003: 6 deaths2004: 10 deaths2005: 9 deaths2006: 5 deaths2007: 1–2 deaths2008: 4 deaths2009: 7 deaths2010: 1–2 deaths2011: 8 deaths2012: 8 deaths2013: 3 deaths2014: 4 deaths2015: 1–2 deaths2016: 4 deaths2017: 1–2 deaths2018: 6 deaths2019: 6 deaths2020: 6 deaths2021: 6 deaths2022: 6 deaths2023: 3 deaths2024: 5 deaths
People killed in crashes in Johnson County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 5 deaths.

Ten-year total down 15% (52 in 2005–2014, 44 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.

Compared with Arkansas and the nation

MeasureJohnsonArkansasUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202416.819.311.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202419.119.511.5
Deaths, 2015–2024445,846389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–2024395,324358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-15%+1%+7%
Crashes on rural roads72%63%43%

Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 26,172 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking20.5%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver20.5%
Pedestriansshare of people killed9.1%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed11.4%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used80%
In darknesscrashes after dark41%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads71.8%

tick marks the Arkansas share. Bars are shares of fatal crashes (alcohol, speeding, darkness, rural) or of people killed (pedestrians, motorcyclists, unrestrained occupants) over the ten-year window.

"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.

Time of day and day of week

12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Fatal crashes in Johnson County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 39 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday23%
Wednesday18%
Thursday18%
Monday13%
Tuesday13%
Sunday10%
Friday5%

Light condition

Daylight56%
Dark, not lighted28%
Dark, lighted13%
Dusk3%
Dawn0%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Major collector28%
Local26%
Minor arterial21%
Interstate13%
Other principal arterial8%
Minor collector5%
Other freeways and expressways0%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the Arkansas share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear85%
Cloudy10%
Rain5%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Fog, smog or smoke0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Johnson

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1Interstate 40Interstate2667724%20%

Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.

By year, 2015–2024

YearFatal crashesDeathsDrinking-driver crashesPer 100,000
202455319.1AR 2024
20231–23011.5AR 2023
2022661–222.9AR 2022
2021561–222.9AR 2021
2020661–222.9AR 2020
201946022.9AR 2019
201856022.9AR 2018
20171–21–21–2—AR 2017
201644015.3AR 2016
20151–21–21–2—AR 2015

Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule). Per-100,000 uses the 2024 population for every year in this table; the ten-year rate above uses each year's estimate.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Johnson County, Arkansas?

5 people died in 5 fatal crashes in 2024; 26 over 2020–2024 and 44 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Johnson compare with Arkansas?

16.8 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 19.3 for Arkansas and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Johnson involved alcohol?

20.5% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 26.5% in Arkansas. The factor furthest above the state share was speeding at 20.5%.

Which roads in Johnson see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, Interstate 40 (2 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Johnson?

Most often between noon to 6pm (44% of crashes) and on Saturdays (23%); 41.0% happened after dark.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.