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Cole County
Residents 77,625Deaths 2024 3Deaths 2015–2024 68Latest 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.
Cole County, Missouri, recorded 3 deaths in 3 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 68 deaths in 63 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.
With 77,625 residents, that is 8.8 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 43% lower than the Missouri rate of 15.5 and below the national rate of 11.8.
The ten-year death toll fell 34% from 103 in 2005–2014 to 68 in 2015–2024.
Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 17.6% against 14.1% for Missouri.
30% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Tuesday was the most common day (21%).
Trend since 1975
Ten-year total down 34% (103 in 2005–2014, 68 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 Missouri and the nation
| Measure | Cole | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–2024 | 8.8 | 15.5 | 11.8 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 3.9 | 15.3 | 11.5 |
| Deaths, 2015–2024 | 68 | 9,557 | 389,190 |
| Fatal crashes, 2015–2024 | 63 | 8,801 | 358,460 |
| Deaths per fatal crash | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Change vs previous ten years | -34% | +5% | +7% |
| Crashes on rural roads | 46% | 52% | 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 77,625 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 Cole County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 63 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 Missouri 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 Cole
| # | Route | Type | In county | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Alcohol | Speeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US Route 54 | US highway | 16 | 118 | 152 | 25% | 29% |
| 2 | US Route 50 | US highway | 13 | 111 | 119 | 23% | 25% |
| 3 | State Route C | State highway | 3 | 57 | 61 | 39% | 37% |
| 4 | State Route B | State highway | 2 | 76 | 82 | 21% | 38% |
| 5 | State Route M | State highway | 2 | 53 | 57 | 40% | 43% |
| 6 | State Route D | State highway | 1 | 84 | 98 | 24% | 44% |
| 7 | State Route H | State highway | 1 | 82 | 91 | 38% | 32% |
| 8 | State Route W | State highway | 1 | 42 | 46 | 29% | 36% |
| 9 | State Route U | State highway | 1 | 42 | 49 | 45% | 33% |
| 10 | State Route 17 | State highway | 1 | 26 | 30 | 23% | 39% |
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 | 3 | 3 | 1–2 | 3.9 | MO 2024 |
| 2023 | 4 | 5 | 1–2 | 6.4 | MO 2023 |
| 2022 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 9.0 | MO 2022 |
| 2021 | 7 | 7 | 1–2 | 9.0 | MO 2021 |
| 2020 | 11 | 11 | 1–2 | 14.2 | MO 2020 |
| 2019 | 10 | 14 | 1–2 | 18.0 | MO 2019 |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 | 1–2 | 5.2 | MO 2018 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 | 1–2 | 5.2 | MO 2017 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 10.3 | MO 2016 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 | 1–2 | 6.4 | MO 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 Cole County, Missouri?
3 people died in 3 fatal crashes in 2024; 33 over 2020–2024 and 68 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
How does Cole compare with Missouri?
8.8 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 15.5 for Missouri and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.
What share of fatal crashes in Cole involved alcohol?
27.0% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 27.5% in Missouri. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 17.6%.
Which roads in Cole see the most fatal crashes?
Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 54 (16 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 50 (13 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route C (3 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).
When do fatal crashes happen in Cole?
Most often between 6pm to midnight (30% of crashes) and on Tuesdays (21%); 43.5% 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.