Fatal Roads

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Boyd County

Residents 47,777Deaths 2024 1–2Deaths 2015–2024 41Latest 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 41 people killed in 36 fatal crashes in Boyd County, Kentucky, between 2015 and 2024, fewer than three of them in 2024.

With 47,777 residents, that is 8.6 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 50% lower than the Kentucky rate of 17.1 and below the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 32% from 60 in 2005–2014 to 41 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 29.3% against 13.1% for Kentucky.

36% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Tuesday was the most common day (22%).

1–2deaths in 20241–2 fatal crashes
19deaths, 2020–202441 over ten years
8.6per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 4.2
-50%vs Kentucky ratestate 17.1 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0714197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 7 deaths1976: 8 deaths1977: 6 deaths1978: 14 deaths1979: 4 deaths1980: 7 deaths1981: 3 deaths1982: 8 deaths1983: 8 deaths1984: 5 deaths1985: 6 deaths1986: 3 deaths1987: 7 deaths1988: 8 deaths1989: 7 deaths1990: 6 deaths1991: 6 deaths1992: 10 deaths1993: 11 deaths1994: 3 deaths1995: 5 deaths1996: 4 deaths1997: 3 deaths1998: 5 deaths1999: 4 deaths2000: 7 deaths2001: 13 deaths2002: 10 deaths2003: 9 deaths2004: 8 deaths2005: 5 deaths2006: 7 deaths2007: 5 deaths2008: 9 deaths2009: 1–2 deaths2010: 10 deaths2011: 6 deaths2012: 6 deaths2013: 4 deaths2014: 6 deaths2015: 5 deaths2016: 4 deaths2017: 6 deaths2018: 4 deaths2019: 3 deaths2020: 6 deaths2021: 3 deaths2022: 3 deaths2023: 5 deaths2024: 1–2 deaths
People killed in crashes in Boyd County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 1–2 deaths.

Ten-year total down 32% (60 in 2005–2014, 41 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 Kentucky and the nation

MeasureBoydKentuckyUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–20248.617.111.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 20244.215.411.5
Deaths, 2015–2024417,684389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–2024367,075358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-32%-3%+7%
Crashes on rural roads53%66%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 47,777 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking38.9%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver19.4%
Pedestriansshare of people killed7.3%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed29.3%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used76.9%
In darknesscrashes after dark36.1%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads52.8%

tick marks the Kentucky 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 Boyd County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 36 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Tuesday22%
Friday19%
Sunday17%
Wednesday14%
Thursday14%
Saturday8%
Monday6%

Light condition

Daylight56%
Dark, not lighted19%
Dark, lighted14%
Dawn6%
Dusk3%
Dark, lighting unknown3%

Road type

Other principal arterial28%
Local28%
Major collector22%
Minor arterial8%
Minor collector8%
Interstate6%
Other freeways and expressways0%

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

Weather

Clear74%
Cloudy17%
Rain9%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Fog, smog or smoke0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Boyd

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1US Route 60US highway725327124%17%
2US Route 23US highway4941077%10%
3Interstate 64Interstate215717523%17%

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
20241–21–20—KY 2024
202355410.5KY 2023
20221–2306.3KY 2022
20211–231–26.3KY 2021
2020561–212.6KY 2020
20193336.3KY 2019
2018441–28.4KY 2018
2017561–212.6KY 2017
20164408.4KY 2016
2015451–210.5KY 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 Boyd County, Kentucky?

fewer than three people died in fewer than three fatal crashes in 2024; 19 over 2020–2024 and 41 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Boyd compare with Kentucky?

8.6 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 17.1 for Kentucky and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Boyd involved alcohol?

38.9% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 25.3% in Kentucky. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 29.3%.

Which roads in Boyd see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 60 (7 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 23 (4 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and Interstate 64 (2 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Boyd?

Most often between noon to 6pm (36% of crashes) and on Tuesdays (22%); 36.1% 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.