Fatal Roads

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Dent County

Residents 14,721Deaths 2024 6Deaths 2015–2024 36Latest 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 36 people killed in 34 fatal crashes in Dent County, Missouri, between 2015 and 2024, 6 of them in 2024.

With 14,721 residents, that is 23.9 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 54% higher than the Missouri rate of 15.5 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 22% from 46 in 2005–2014 to 36 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 19.4% against 14.1% for Missouri.

41% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Sunday was the most common day (18%).

6deaths in 20245 fatal crashes
16deaths, 2020–202436 over ten years
23.9per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 40.8
+54%vs Missouri ratestate 15.5 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0510197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 1–2 deaths1976: 8 deaths1977: 7 deaths1978: 1–2 deaths1979: 6 deaths1980: 4 deaths1981: 9 deaths1982: 7 deaths1983: 3 deaths1984: 6 deaths1985: 0 deaths1986: 4 deaths1987: 5 deaths1988: 3 deaths1989: 10 deaths1990: 7 deaths1991: 6 deaths1992: 1–2 deaths1993: 3 deaths1994: 5 deaths1995: 4 deaths1996: 5 deaths1997: 1–2 deaths1998: 5 deaths1999: 6 deaths2000: 1–2 deaths2001: 1–2 deaths2002: 8 deaths2003: 1–2 deaths2004: 4 deaths2005: 7 deaths2006: 6 deaths2007: 6 deaths2008: 4 deaths2009: 5 deaths2010: 5 deaths2011: 3 deaths2012: 3 deaths2013: 3 deaths2014: 4 deaths2015: 5 deaths2016: 4 deaths2017: 3 deaths2018: 5 deaths2019: 3 deaths2020: 4 deaths2021: 1–2 deaths2022: 1–2 deaths2023: 3 deaths2024: 6 deaths
People killed in crashes in Dent County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 6 deaths.

Ten-year total down 22% (46 in 2005–2014, 36 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

MeasureDentMissouriUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202423.915.511.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202440.815.311.5
Deaths, 2015–2024369,557389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–2024348,801358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-22%+5%+7%
Crashes on rural roads100%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 14,721 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking14.7%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver41.2%
Pedestriansshare of people killed13.9%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed19.4%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used62.5%
In darknesscrashes after dark47.1%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads100%

tick marks the Missouri 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 Dent County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 34 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Sunday18%
Monday18%
Saturday18%
Friday15%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday9%

Light condition

Daylight53%
Dark, not lighted44%
Dark, lighted3%
Dawn0%
Dusk0%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Minor arterial52%
Major collector33%
Local9%
Minor collector6%
Interstate0%
Other freeways and expressways0%
Other principal arterial0%

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

Clear79%
Cloudy15%
Rain6%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Fog, smog or smoke0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Dent

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1State Route 32State highway8576119%30%
2State Route 19State highway5556324%36%
3State Route 72State highway5323619%9%
4State Route CState highway3576139%37%
5State Route HHState highway2232422%48%
6State Route HState highway1829138%32%
7State Route BState highway1768221%38%
8State Route OState highway1475228%36%
9State Route FState highway1464915%50%
10State Route CCState highway1293138%52%

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
2024561–240.8MO 2024
202333020.4MO 2023
20221–21–20—MO 2022
20211–21–20—MO 2021
2020341–227.2MO 2020
201933020.4MO 2019
2018551–234.0MO 2018
201733020.4MO 2017
2016441–227.2MO 2016
201555034.0MO 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 Dent County, Missouri?

6 people died in 5 fatal crashes in 2024; 16 over 2020–2024 and 36 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Dent compare with Missouri?

23.9 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 Dent involved alcohol?

14.7% 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 19.4%.

Which roads in Dent see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, State Route 32 (8 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), State Route 19 (5 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 72 (5 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Dent?

Most often between noon to 6pm (41% of crashes) and on Sundays (18%); 47.1% 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.