Fatal Roads

States › Arkansas › 2021

2021

Arkansas · year

Arkansas in 2021

Deaths 692Fatal crashes 630Per 100,000 22.9US deaths 43,230

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 2021.

In 2021, 692 people died in 630 fatal crashes in Arkansas, 22.9 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 6% from 651 in 2020 to 692 in 2021.

Arkansas accounted for 1.6% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

29% 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 (24%).

31% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Sunday was the most common day.

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasureArkansas 2021Arkansas 2020United States 2021
Deaths69265143,230
Fatal crashes63059839,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents22.921.613.0
Crashes with a drinking driver29%26%26%

Counties in 2021

Every county with a fatal crash in 2021, 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 County687017.4714
Benton County303510.9261
Saline County282922.1150
Washington County282910.9262
Garland County202323.0212
Faulkner County202116.0164
Sebastian County192015.4151
White County192025.3155
Independence County152052.2100
Craighead County181916.4185
Jefferson County151625.1141
Lonoke County141620.9127
Miller County141535.8112
Hot Spring County131545.0120
Boone County121333.675
Union County111335.191
Clark County101362.163
Pope County111218.594
St. Francis County101255.081
Crawford County91016.192
Crittenden County9919.3145
Logan County9941.946
Poinsett County9940.478
Randolph County9947.345
Franklin County8951.263
Phillips County8961.441
Fulton County7971.749
Mississippi County7923.681
Baxter County8818.680
Polk County8841.256
Clay County7856.754
Greene County7817.079
Van Buren County7849.530
Yell County6839.755
Grant County7737.753
Columbia County6731.845
Conway County6628.047
Lawrence County6636.883
Ouachita County6627.757
Johnson County5622.944
Calhoun County55106.620
Cleburne County5519.567
Little River County5543.037
Madison County5528.056
Searcy County5563.836
Ashley County4527.844
Marion County4528.435
Cleveland County3567.928
Arkansas County4424.931
Carroll County4413.887
Drew County4423.647
Izard County4428.020
Montgomery County4447.035
Nevada County4450.030
Perry County4439.028
Stone County4431.335
Chicot County3443.148
Sharp County1–2422.153
Dallas County3349.419
Hempstead County3315.775
Sevier County3319.148
Lee County1–2337.023
Scott County1–2330.536
Bradley County1–2330.227
Cross County1–21–2—36
Jackson County1–21–2—45
Monroe County1–21–2—42
Newton County1–21–2—31
Prairie County1–21–2—33
Howard County1–21–2—34
Desha County1–21–2—21
Lincoln County1–21–2—21
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

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

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday14%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday11%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday15%

Road type

Other principal arterial24%
Local21%
Minor arterial21%
Major collector16%
Interstate15%
Other freeways and expressways2%
Minor collector1%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Arkansas in 2021?

692 people in 630 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 22.9 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Arkansas had the most crash deaths in 2021?

Pulaski County with 70 deaths in 68 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in Arkansas?

692 deaths against 651 in 2020 (+6%). Nationally the 2021 total was 43,230.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2021 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.