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Vance County
Residents 42,337Deaths 2024 4Deaths 2015–2024 95Latest 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.
Vance County, North Carolina, recorded 4 deaths in 4 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 95 deaths in 86 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.
With 42,337 residents, that is 21.9 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 51% higher than the North Carolina rate of 14.5 and above the national rate of 11.8.
The ten-year death toll rose 16% from 82 in 2005–2014 to 95 in 2015–2024.
Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is alcohol (a driver reported as drinking): 30.2% against 25.3% for North Carolina.
33% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Sunday was the most common day (23%).
Trend since 1975
Ten-year total up 16% (82 in 2005–2014, 95 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 North Carolina and the nation
| Measure | Vance | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–2024 | 21.9 | 14.5 | 11.8 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 9.4 | 14.7 | 11.5 |
| Deaths, 2015–2024 | 95 | 15,192 | 389,190 |
| Fatal crashes, 2015–2024 | 86 | 14,061 | 358,460 |
| Deaths per fatal crash | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Change vs previous ten years | +16% | +9% | +7% |
| Crashes on rural roads | 67% | 57% | 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 42,337 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 Vance County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 86 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 North Carolina 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 Vance
| # | Route | Type | In county | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Alcohol | Speeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Route 39 | State highway | 17 | 35 | 38 | 43% | 29% |
| 2 | Interstate 85 | Interstate | 9 | 324 | 352 | 25% | 36% |
| 3 | US Route 1 | US highway | 8 | 120 | 133 | 21% | 31% |
| 4 | US Route 158 | US highway | 3 | 138 | 158 | 19% | 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
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Drinking-driver crashes | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 4 | 1–2 | 9.4 | NC 2024 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 | 1–2 | 11.8 | NC 2023 |
| 2022 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 40.2 | NC 2022 |
| 2021 | 13 | 17 | 1–2 | 40.2 | NC 2021 |
| 2020 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 23.6 | NC 2020 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 | 1–2 | 14.2 | NC 2019 |
| 2018 | 6 | 8 | 1–2 | 18.9 | NC 2018 |
| 2017 | 8 | 9 | 1–2 | 21.3 | NC 2017 |
| 2016 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 21.3 | NC 2016 |
| 2015 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 23.6 | NC 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 Vance County, North Carolina?
4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in 2024; 53 over 2020–2024 and 95 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
How does Vance compare with North Carolina?
21.9 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 14.5 for North Carolina and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.
What share of fatal crashes in Vance involved alcohol?
30.2% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 25.3% in North Carolina. The factor furthest above the state share was alcohol (a driver reported as drinking) at 30.2%.
Which roads in Vance see the most fatal crashes?
Among signed routes with a page on this site, State Route 39 (17 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), Interstate 85 (9 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and US Route 1 (8 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).
When do fatal crashes happen in Vance?
Most often between 6pm to midnight (33% of crashes) and on Sundays (23%); 49.4% 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.