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1985

Arkansas · year

Arkansas in 1985

Deaths 534Fatal crashes 451Per 100,000 —US deaths 43,825

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. Final FARS file for 1985.

In 1985, 534 people died in 451 fatal crashes in Arkansas.

The death toll was about level between 1984 (525) and 1985 (534).

Arkansas accounted for 1.2% of the 43,825 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

60.8% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

33% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1984 and the nation

MeasureArkansas 1985Arkansas 1984United States 1985
Deaths53452543,825
Fatal crashes45147239,196
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver61%58%40%

Counties in 1985

Every county with a fatal crash in 1985, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 73 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Pulaski County33348.5714
Washington County21249.0262
Crawford County112336.992
Crittenden County182042.9145
Benton County14185.6261
Jefferson County131726.7141
Sebastian County151612.3151
Faulkner County141612.2164
Union County121643.291
Mississippi County81642.081
Garland County121212.0212
Pope County121218.594
Conway County111256.047
Jackson County91272.045
Craighead County9119.5185
Clay County81177.954
Poinsett County101044.878
Boone County91025.975
Ouachita County81046.157
Clark County7943.063
Lonoke County8810.5127
Columbia County7836.345
St. Francis County7836.781
White County7810.1155
Saline County775.3150
Cross County6743.236
Cleburne County6623.467
Miller County6614.3112
Phillips County6640.941
Hempstead County5631.475
Montgomery County5670.535
Grant County3632.453
Lafayette County3699.810
Carroll County1–2620.787
Hot Spring County5515.0120
Johnson County5519.144
Polk County5525.756
Chicot County4553.948
Desha County4548.421
Greene County4510.779
Sharp County4527.653
Nevada County3562.530
Van Buren County3531.030
Independence County4410.4100
Lawrence County4424.583
Lee County4449.423
Little River County4434.437
Perry County4439.028
Scott County4440.736
Logan County3418.646
Monroe County3462.442
Searcy County3451.036
Arkansas County3318.731
Ashley County3316.744
Dallas County3349.419
Drew County3317.747
Fulton County3323.949
Howard County3324.234
Lincoln County3323.321
Madison County3316.856
Prairie County3337.833
Sevier County3319.148
Stone County3323.535
Woodruff County3351.79
Yell County1–2314.955
Cleveland County1–21–2—28
Izard County1–21–2—20
Newton County1–21–2—31
Bradley County1–21–2—27
Calhoun County1–21–2—20
Franklin County1–21–2—63
Marion County1–21–2—35
Pike County1–21–2—18

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am3.8%
1am4.3%
2am3.1%
3am3.4%
4am3.1%
5am2.2%
6am2%
7am2.7%
8am1.6%
9am2%
10am2.9%
11am5.8%
12pm3.1%
1pm5.2%
2pm7.4%
3pm7%
4pm6.5%
5pm4.3%
6pm6.3%
7pm4.9%
8pm4.9%
9pm3.8%
10pm4.7%
11pm4.9%

Weekday

Sunday18%
Monday11%
Tuesday8%
Wednesday10%
Thursday15%
Friday18%
Saturday19%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Arkansas in 1985?

534 people in 451 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1985 file.

Which county in Arkansas had the most crash deaths in 1985?

Pulaski County with 34 deaths in 33 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1985 compare with 1984 in Arkansas?

534 deaths against 525 in 1984 (+2%). Nationally the 1985 total was 43,825.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1985 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.