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1985

Kansas · year

Kansas in 1985

Deaths 486Fatal crashes 429Per 100,000 —US deaths 43,825

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 1985.

In 1985, 486 people died in 429 fatal crashes in Kansas.

The death toll fell 5% from 510 in 1984 to 486 in 1985.

Kansas accounted for 1.1% of the 43,825 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

33.6% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

Compared with 1984 and the nation

MeasureKansas 1985Kansas 1984United States 1985
Deaths48651043,825
Fatal crashes42945139,196
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver34%36%40%

Counties in 1985

Every county with a fatal crash in 1985, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 87 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Sedgwick County505810.8611
Wyandotte County303118.3245
Johnson County22243.8261
Shawnee County152111.8197
Reno County141524.482
Crawford County101230.854
Finney County91128.746
Neosho County51170.730
Lyon County91030.849
Montgomery County91032.876
Leavenworth County71011.8111
Cowley County9926.354
Douglas County797.486
Chase County78319.125
Dickinson County7843.043
Saline County7815.072
Franklin County7726.665
Marion County7760.046
Butler County6710.195
Labette County6735.542
Seward County6732.935
Ellsworth County57110.830
Greenwood County57119.234
Barton County6624.234
Ford County6617.654
Riley County668.350
Trego County66216.310
Wilson County6671.435
Harvey County5617.857
Anderson County5563.220
Brown County5554.741
Jefferson County5527.352
Miami County5514.052
Sumner County5522.460
Geary County4514.144
Gove County45188.125
Rice County4443.119
Bourbon County3427.719
Ottawa County3468.314
Pottawatomie County3414.936
Atchison County3318.528
Cherokee County3315.744
Ellis County3310.325
Gray County3352.426
Hamilton County33120.611
Kearny County3378.89
Lincoln County33102.51
Linn County3330.524
McPherson County339.956
Republic County3365.023
Sherman County3351.816
Thomas County3338.530
Edwards County1–23109.810
Harper County1–2355.420
Osage County1–2319.133
Osborne County1–2389.58
Clay County1–21–2—24
Coffey County1–21–2—15
Doniphan County1–21–2—14
Haskell County1–21–2—12
Hodgeman County1–21–2—9
Jackson County1–21–2—33
Logan County1–21–2—7
Nemaha County1–21–2—15
Norton County1–21–2—16
Pratt County1–21–2—33
Sheridan County1–21–2—15
Smith County1–21–2—5
Stafford County1–21–2—17
Woodson County1–21–2—11
Barber County1–21–2—11
Rooks County1–21–2—9
Allen County1–21–2—18
Chautauqua County1–21–2—11
Cheyenne County1–21–2—9
Clark County1–21–2—15
Elk County1–21–2—6
Graham County1–21–2—5
Jewell County1–21–2—11
Lane County1–21–2—7
Marshall County1–21–2—15
Meade County1–21–2—25
Pawnee County1–21–2—18
Phillips County1–21–2—13
Rush County1–21–2—12
Russell County1–21–2—24
Stevens County1–21–2—15

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

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday10%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday12%
Thursday12%
Friday18%
Saturday16%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Kansas in 1985?

486 people in 429 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1985 file.

Which county in Kansas had the most crash deaths in 1985?

Sedgwick County with 58 deaths in 50 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1985 compare with 1984 in Kansas?

486 deaths against 510 in 1984 (+-5%). Nationally the 1985 total was 43,825.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1985 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.