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Dickenson County

Residents 13,411Deaths 2024 3Deaths 2015–2024 17Latest 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.

In 2024, the latest year in FARS, Dickenson County (Virginia) had 3 fatal crashes with 3 deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 17 fatal crashes and 17 deaths.

With 13,411 residents, that is 11.9 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 18% higher than the Virginia rate of 10.1 and close to the national rate of 11.8. The rate rests on very few deaths and can double or halve with a single crash; through traffic on a route that passes a small population raises it further.

Counts this small move a lot from year to year, so the page shows ten-year totals and five-year bins rather than single years; 2005–2014 had 23 deaths.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is speeding: 47.1% against 28.8% for Virginia.

41% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Saturday was the most common day (24%).

3deaths in 20243 fatal crashes
9deaths, 2020–202417 over ten years
11.9per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 22.4
+18%vs Virginia ratestate 10.1 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0132619751980198519901995200020052010201520201975: 20 deaths1980: 26 deaths1985: 19 deaths1990: 23 deaths1995: 16 deaths2000: 11 deaths2005: 11 deaths2010: 12 deaths2015: 8 deaths2020: 9 deaths
People killed in crashes in Dickenson County, five-year totals 1975–2024. Single years are not shown for counties with fewer than 20 deaths in the last ten years. Latest point: 2020, 9 deaths.

Ten-year total down 26% (23 in 2005–2014, 17 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 Virginia and the nation

MeasureDickensonVirginiaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202411.910.111.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202422.410.411.5
Deaths, 2015–2024178,664389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–2024178,138358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.01.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-26%+5%+7%
Crashes on rural roads100%55%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 13,411 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking41.2%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver47.1%
Pedestriansshare of people killed0%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed5.9%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used68.8%
In darknesscrashes after dark23.5%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads100%

tick marks the Virginia 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 Dickenson County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 17 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday24%
Sunday18%
Tuesday18%
Thursday18%
Friday18%
Wednesday6%
Monday0%

Light condition

Daylight76%
Dark, not lighted24%
Dark, lighted0%
Dawn0%
Dusk0%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Minor arterial35%
Major collector24%
Local24%
Minor collector18%
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 Virginia share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Cloudy60%
Rain20%
Fog, smog or smoke20%
Clear0%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Dickenson

No signed route in the county reached 20 fatal crashes in 2015–2024, the threshold for a route page. Crashes on local streets and county roads are included in the county totals above.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Dickenson County, Virginia?

3 people died in 3 fatal crashes in 2024; 9 over 2020–2024 and 17 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Dickenson compare with Virginia?

11.9 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 10.1 for Virginia and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Dickenson involved alcohol?

41.2% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 29.4% in Virginia. The factor furthest above the state share was speeding at 47.1%.

Which roads in Dickenson see the most fatal crashes?

No signed route in the county reached 20 fatal crashes over 2015–2024, the threshold for a route page.

When do fatal crashes happen in Dickenson?

Most often between noon to 6pm (41% of crashes) and on Saturdays (24%); 23.5% 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.