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1987

Colorado · year

Colorado in 1987

Deaths 591Fatal crashes 516Per 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, 591 people died in 516 fatal crashes in Colorado.

The death toll was about level between 1986 (603) and 1987 (591).

Colorado accounted for 1.3% of the 46,390 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

45.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

32% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Friday was the most common day.

Compared with 1986 and the nation

MeasureColorado 1987Colorado 1986United States 1987
Deaths59160346,390
Fatal crashes51650741,438
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver45%52%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. 59 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
El Paso County53608.0721
Jefferson County45488.3478
Denver County46476.4608
Adams County36376.8635
Arapahoe County27345.1501
Pueblo County273118.2290
Weld County25308.1569
Boulder County27288.5255
Larimer County23266.9352
Costilla County414379.824
Mesa County13138.1181
Douglas County10133.3207
Fremont County111224.077
Eagle County101120.251
Garfield County101117.4101
La Plata County91017.697
Conejos County49119.215
Grand County1–2955.731
Las Animas County8855.134
Montezuma County4829.852
Morgan County6723.178
Park County6738.253
Logan County5733.755
Clear Creek County6666.132
Gunnison County6634.745
Summit County6619.441
Chaffee County5524.138
Otero County5527.831
Bent County4469.212
Delta County4412.451
Gilpin County4467.18
Pitkin County4424.018
Teller County4416.127
Mineral County34428.723
Phillips County3489.19
Routt County3415.841
Archuleta County3321.328
Elbert County3310.239
Huerfano County3342.936
Montrose County336.761
Prowers County3325.124
Washington County3362.934
Jackson County1–23235.721
Moffat County1–2322.823
Yuma County1–2329.923
Baca County1–21–2—23
Custer County1–21–2—17
Kit Carson County1–21–2—38
Lincoln County1–21–2—39
Ouray County1–21–2—23
Rio Blanco County1–21–2—18
Rio Grande County1–21–2—21
Saguache County1–21–2—33
San Juan County1–21–2—9
San Miguel County1–21–2—20
Cheyenne County1–21–2—20
Dolores County1–21–2—10
Kiowa County1–21–2—7
Lake County1–21–2—13

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

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

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday11%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday12%
Thursday15%
Friday18%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Colorado in 1987?

591 people in 516 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1987 file.

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

El Paso County with 60 deaths in 53 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1987 compare with 1986 in Colorado?

591 deaths against 603 in 1986 (+-2%). 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.