Fatal Roads

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2020

Arkansas · year

Arkansas in 2020

Deaths 651Fatal crashes 598Per 100,000 21.6US deaths 39,007

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 2020.

In 2020, 651 people died in 598 fatal crashes in Arkansas, 21.6 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 27% from 511 in 2019 to 651 in 2020.

Arkansas accounted for 1.7% of the 39,007 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

26.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on other principal arterial roads (26%).

35% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201920202021 →All years

Compared with 2019 and the nation

MeasureArkansas 2020Arkansas 2019United States 2020
Deaths65151139,007
Fatal crashes59847335,935
Deaths per 100,000 residents21.616.911.8
Crashes with a drinking driver26%26%27%

Counties in 2020

Every county with a fatal crash in 2020, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 72 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Pulaski County818521.2714
Benton County343510.9261
Washington County282810.5262
White County202025.3155
Craighead County172017.3185
Garland County181818.0212
Independence County161744.3100
Jefferson County161625.1141
Faulkner County151511.4164
Saline County151511.4150
Sebastian County141511.5151
Poinsett County131567.378
Cleburne County131454.667
Crittenden County131327.9145
Bradley County713130.927
Miller County121228.6112
Pope County111218.594
St. Francis County111255.081
Lonoke County101215.7127
Lawrence County81273.683
Carroll County101034.587
Franklin County91056.963
Mississippi County91026.381
Hempstead County8947.175
Jackson County7954.045
Baxter County7818.680
Crawford County7812.892
Greene County7714.979
Boone County6718.175
Columbia County6731.845
Fulton County6755.849
Sevier County6744.548
Union County6718.991
Conway County6628.047
Howard County6648.434
Johnson County6622.944
Madison County6633.656
Marion County6634.135
Ashley County5633.444
Grant County5632.453
Yell County5629.855
Clark County4628.763
Arkansas County5531.231
Hot Spring County5515.0120
Montgomery County5558.835
Ouachita County5523.157
Cross County4530.936
Drew County4529.547
Polk County4525.756
Van Buren County4531.030
Monroe County3577.942
Newton County4456.931
Searcy County4451.036
Sharp County4422.153
Lafayette County3349.910
Logan County3314.046
Stone County3323.535
Desha County1–2329.121
Scott County1–2330.536
Calhoun County1–21–2—20
Dallas County1–21–2—19
Lee County1–21–2—23
Little River County1–21–2—37
Phillips County1–21–2—41
Woodruff County1–21–2—9
Lincoln County1–21–2—21
Clay County1–21–2—54
Cleveland County1–21–2—28
Nevada County1–21–2—30
Pike County1–21–2—18
Prairie County1–21–2—33
Randolph County1–21–2—45

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

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

Weekday

Sunday13%
Monday14%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday15%
Thursday14%
Friday14%
Saturday17%

Road type

Other principal arterial26%
Local23%
Minor arterial21%
Interstate13%
Major collector13%
Other freeways and expressways3%
Minor collector1%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Arkansas in 2020?

651 people in 598 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2020 file, or 21.6 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Arkansas had the most crash deaths in 2020?

Pulaski County with 85 deaths in 81 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2020 compare with 2019 in Arkansas?

651 deaths against 511 in 2019 (+27%). Nationally the 2020 total was 39,007.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2020 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.