Fatal Roads

States › Colorado › 1990

1990

Colorado · year

Colorado in 1990

Deaths 544Fatal crashes 492Per 100,000 —US deaths 44,599

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 1990.

In 1990, 544 people died in 492 fatal crashes in Colorado.

The death toll was about level between 1989 (527) and 1990 (544).

Colorado accounted for 1.2% of the 44,599 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

41.9% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

30% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1989 and the nation

MeasureColorado 1990Colorado 1989United States 1990
Deaths54452744,599
Fatal crashes49248139,836
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver42%43%40%

Counties in 1990

Every county with a fatal crash in 1990, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 53 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
El Paso County55577.6721
Jefferson County46518.8478
Denver County47476.4608
Weld County333810.3569
Arapahoe County29375.5501
Adams County27325.9635
Larimer County27277.2352
Pueblo County262715.9290
Boulder County23247.3255
Douglas County14174.3207
Mesa County14148.7181
Delta County121340.451
Garfield County101117.4101
Morgan County91033.078
Montezuma County8933.552
Montrose County7920.161
Fremont County7714.077
Las Animas County7748.234
Summit County4722.741
Gunnison County5634.745
Routt County5623.841
Yuma County4659.723
Elbert County5517.039
La Plata County558.897
Huerfano County4571.636
Prowers County1–2541.824
Alamosa County4424.031
Chaffee County4419.238
Eagle County447.451
Otero County4422.231
Park County3421.853
Washington County3483.834
Conejos County3339.715
Costilla County3381.424
Gilpin County3350.38
Rio Blanco County3345.418
Clear Creek County1–21–2—32
Kit Carson County1–21–2—38
Lake County1–21–2—13
Lincoln County1–21–2—39
Logan County1–21–2—55
Rio Grande County1–21–2—21
Kiowa County1–21–2—7
Pitkin County1–21–2—18
Saguache County1–21–2—33
Archuleta County1–21–2—28
Bent County1–21–2—12
Dolores County1–21–2—10
Hinsdale County1–21–2—6
Jackson County1–21–2—21
Moffat County1–21–2—23
San Miguel County1–21–2—20
Teller County1–21–2—27

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%
1am5.3%
2am5.7%
3am1.4%
4am2%
5am2.2%
6am4.7%
7am2.8%
8am4.3%
9am3%
10am2.6%
11am2.8%
12pm2.2%
1pm4.3%
2pm5.3%
3pm6.3%
4pm4.1%
5pm6.9%
6pm4.7%
7pm4.9%
8pm6.9%
9pm5.7%
10pm3.7%
11pm3.9%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday13%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday11%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday19%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Colorado in 1990?

544 people in 492 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1990 file.

Which county in Colorado had the most crash deaths in 1990?

El Paso County with 57 deaths in 55 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1990 compare with 1989 in Colorado?

544 deaths against 527 in 1989 (+3%). Nationally the 1990 total was 44,599.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1990 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.