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1998

Kentucky · year

Kentucky in 1998

Deaths 858Fatal crashes 766Per 100,000 —US deaths 41,501

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 1998.

In 1998, 858 people died in 766 fatal crashes in Kentucky.

The death toll was about level between 1997 (857) and 1998 (858).

Kentucky accounted for 2.1% of the 41,501 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

32.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

36% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1997 and the nation

MeasureKentucky 1998Kentucky 1997United States 1998
Deaths85885741,501
Fatal crashes76677437,107
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver32%30%30%

Counties in 1998

Every county with a fatal crash in 1998, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 118 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Jefferson County67688.61,088
Fayette County374012.1369
Pike County293461.3162
Warren County162416.2178
Madison County222323.1109
Laurel County172336.3132
Boone County172013.9119
Floyd County141749.2104
Shelby County121529.967
Kenton County12148.0108
Pulaski County121420.9136
Whitley County121334.985
Jessamine County111323.065
Muhlenberg County121239.368
Hardin County101210.6199
Christian County101115.5120
Anderson County81144.229
Perry County81141.183
Marshall County101031.584
Bell County91043.458
Grayson County91036.986
Clark County81026.567
Wayne County61050.948
Daviess County998.6121
Leslie County9992.527
Lewis County9969.947
Rockcastle County8955.557
Harlan County7935.954
Magoffin County4980.934
Bullitt County889.3116
Butler County8863.742
Clay County8840.856
Knox County8827.053
Nelson County8816.4112
Carter County7830.756
Mason County7847.234
Fleming County7744.917
Grant County7727.250
Graves County7719.075
McCracken County7710.4127
Ohio County7729.258
Adair County6736.445
Breathitt County6754.749
Hopkins County6715.580
Lincoln County6728.160
Metcalfe County6766.320
Morgan County6749.025
Woodford County4725.256
Boyle County6619.142
Calloway County6615.458
Greenup County6617.034
Hart County6630.155
Henderson County6613.678
Henry County6637.041
Lawrence County5638.037
Marion County5630.252
Knott County4644.630
Todd County4647.044
Barren County5511.095
Boyd County5510.541
Campbell County555.388
Casey County5531.431
Franklin County559.551
McLean County5554.818
Powell County5538.741
Scott County558.185
Simpson County5524.646
Union County5537.928
Bourbon County4524.659
Larue County4533.143
Logan County4517.653
Allen County4418.253
Clinton County4443.629
Fulton County4463.713
Letcher County4419.948
Martin County4437.417
Montgomery County4413.964
Pendleton County4426.921
Rowan County4416.241
Estill County3428.616
Monroe County3435.812
Washington County3432.633
Bracken County3335.319
Caldwell County3323.837
Cumberland County3349.617
Elliott County3341.314
Johnson County3313.633
McCreary County3317.846
Meade County339.978
Mercer County3312.842
Spencer County3314.424
Wolfe County3347.140
Breckinridge County1–2314.154
Lyon County1–2333.033
Ballard County1–21–2—33
Crittenden County1–21–2—25
Green County1–21–2—31
Lee County1–21–2—16
Nicholas County1–21–2—24
Owsley County1–21–2—15
Taylor County1–21–2—54
Trigg County1–21–2—43
Webster County1–21–2—30
Oldham County1–21–2—59
Bath County1–21–2—33
Carlisle County1–21–2—14
Carroll County1–21–2—33
Gallatin County1–21–2—33
Garrard County1–21–2—30
Hancock County1–21–2—17
Harrison County1–21–2—23
Hickman County1–21–2—10
Jackson County1–21–2—37
Livingston County1–21–2—20
Menifee County1–21–2—22
Owen County1–21–2—28
Russell County1–21–2—32
Trimble County1–21–2—24

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

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

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday12%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday14%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday17%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Kentucky in 1998?

858 people in 766 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1998 file.

Which county in Kentucky had the most crash deaths in 1998?

Jefferson County with 68 deaths in 67 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1998 compare with 1997 in Kentucky?

858 deaths against 857 in 1997 (0%). Nationally the 1998 total was 41,501.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1998 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.