States › Arkansas › Polk County
Polk County
Residents 19,434Deaths 2024 8Deaths 2015–2024 56Latest 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 56 people killed in 52 fatal crashes in Polk County, Arkansas, between 2015 and 2024, 8 of them in 2024.
With 19,434 residents, that is 28.4 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 47% higher than the Arkansas rate of 19.3 and above the national rate of 11.8.
The ten-year death toll was about level between 2005–2014 (57) and 2015–2024 (56).
Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 17.9% against 13.7% for Arkansas.
42% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Thursday was the most common day (23%).
Trend since 1975
Ten-year total down 2% (57 in 2005–2014, 56 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
| Measure | Polk | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–2024 | 28.4 | 19.3 | 11.8 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 41.2 | 19.5 | 11.5 |
| Deaths, 2015–2024 | 56 | 5,846 | 389,190 |
| Fatal crashes, 2015–2024 | 52 | 5,324 | 358,460 |
| Deaths per fatal crash | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Change vs previous ten years | -2% | +1% | +7% |
| Crashes on rural roads | 87% | 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 19,434 in 2024.
Factors
"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
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Fatal crashes in Polk County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 52 crashes with a known hour and weekday.
By weekday
Light condition
Road type
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
Routes with the most fatal crashes in Polk
| # | Route | Type | In county | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Alcohol | Speeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US Route 71 | US highway | 3 | 46 | 50 | 15% | 13% |
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
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Drinking-driver crashes | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 8 | 1–2 | 41.2 | AR 2024 |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 20.6 | AR 2023 |
| 2022 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 25.7 | AR 2022 |
| 2021 | 8 | 8 | 1–2 | 41.2 | AR 2021 |
| 2020 | 4 | 5 | 1–2 | 25.7 | AR 2020 |
| 2019 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15.4 | AR 2019 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15.4 | AR 2018 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 | 1–2 | 20.6 | AR 2017 |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 20.6 | AR 2016 |
| 2015 | 10 | 12 | 1–2 | 61.7 | 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 Polk County, Arkansas?
8 people died in 8 fatal crashes in 2024; 30 over 2020–2024 and 56 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
How does Polk compare with Arkansas?
28.4 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 Polk involved alcohol?
28.8% 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 motorcyclists at 17.9%.
Which roads in Polk see the most fatal crashes?
Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 71 (3 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).
When do fatal crashes happen in Polk?
Most often between noon to 6pm (42% of crashes) and on Thursdays (23%); 28.8% 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.