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1987

Arkansas · year

Arkansas in 1987

Deaths 639Fatal crashes 550Per 100,000 —US deaths 46,390

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 1987.

In 1987, 639 people died in 550 fatal crashes in Arkansas.

The death toll rose 6% from 603 in 1986 to 639 in 1987.

Arkansas accounted for 1.4% of the 46,390 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

64.7% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

29% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1986 and the nation

MeasureArkansas 1987Arkansas 1986United States 1987
Deaths63960346,390
Fatal crashes55052441,438
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver65%59%42%

Counties in 1987

Every county with a fatal crash in 1987, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 74 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Pulaski County445112.7714
Washington County21259.4262
Benton County20247.5261
Craighead County192319.9185
Poinsett County142194.278
Crittenden County172042.9145
Jefferson County161726.7141
Saline County161612.2150
Faulkner County131511.4164
Sebastian County121511.5151
White County121519.0155
Crawford County121422.592
Union County91437.891
Pope County121320.194
Yell County111364.655
Phillips County101281.841
Garland County111111.0212
Grant County91159.353
Lonoke County91114.4127
Mississippi County91128.981
Hot Spring County101030.0120
Franklin County91056.963
Polk County91051.556
Arkansas County8956.131
Boone County8923.375
Greene County8919.279
Drew County7953.147
Lawrence County7955.283
Sevier County7957.248
Hempstead County8841.975
Clark County7838.263
Independence County7820.9100
Ouachita County7836.957
Randolph County7842.045
Ashley County7738.944
Chicot County6775.548
Bradley County5770.527
Logan County5732.646
Sharp County5738.653
Columbia County6627.245
Cross County5637.136
Little River County5651.637
St. Francis County5627.581
Desha County5548.421
Howard County5540.434
Newton County5571.231
Van Buren County5531.030
Dallas County4582.319
Madison County4528.056
Pike County4549.918
Searcy County4563.836
Scott County3550.836
Baxter County449.380
Clay County4428.354
Fulton County4431.949
Jackson County4424.045
Prairie County4450.433
Calhoun County3364.020
Carroll County3310.487
Cleburne County3311.767
Conway County3314.047
Marion County3317.135
Miller County337.2112
Izard County1–2321.020
Cleveland County1–21–2—28
Lincoln County1–21–2—21
Monroe County1–21–2—42
Montgomery County1–21–2—35
Nevada County1–21–2—30
Stone County1–21–2—35
Woodruff County1–21–2—9
Johnson County1–21–2—44
Lafayette County1–21–2—10
Perry County1–21–2—28

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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday10%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday10%
Thursday14%
Friday19%
Saturday21%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Arkansas in 1987?

639 people in 550 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1987 file.

Which county in Arkansas had the most crash deaths in 1987?

Pulaski County with 51 deaths in 44 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1987 compare with 1986 in Arkansas?

639 deaths against 603 in 1986 (+6%). Nationally the 1987 total was 46,390.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1987 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.