Fatal Roads

States › Kentucky › 2018

2018

Kentucky · year

Kentucky in 2018

Deaths 724Fatal crashes 664Per 100,000 16.2US deaths 36,835

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 2018.

In 2018, 724 people died in 664 fatal crashes in Kentucky, 16.2 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.3 nationally.

The death toll fell 7% from 782 in 2017 to 724 in 2018.

Kentucky accounted for 2% of the 36,835 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

22.7% 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 (25%).

35% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201720182019 →All years

Compared with 2017 and the nation

MeasureKentucky 2018Kentucky 2017United States 2018
Deaths72478236,835
Fatal crashes66472133,919
Deaths per 100,000 residents16.217.611.3
Crashes with a drinking driver23%25%26%

Counties in 2018

Every county with a fatal crash in 2018, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 117 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Jefferson County74769.61,088
Fayette County30329.7369
Hardin County202219.5199
Pike County192137.9162
Laurel County182031.6132
Christian County151926.8120
Kenton County16169.2108
Grayson County131348.086
Nelson County131326.7112
Warren County13138.8178
Bullitt County121214.0116
Pulaski County111218.0136
Oldham County101217.059
Graves County111129.975
Henderson County101022.678
Muhlenberg County91032.868
Whitley County91026.985
Lawrence County81063.337
Campbell County51010.688
Clark County9923.967
Daviess County998.6121
Floyd County9926.1104
Boone County896.2119
McCracken County7913.3127
Taylor County6933.654
Barren County7817.595
Shelby County7816.067
Wolfe County78125.740
Lincoln County6832.160
Marion County5840.352
Jessamine County7712.465
Knox County7723.653
Montgomery County7724.364
Powell County7754.141
Hopkins County6715.580
Allen County6627.253
Hart County6630.155
Madison County666.0109
Ohio County6625.158
Perry County6622.483
Scott County669.785
Breathitt County5646.949
Woodford County5621.656
Logan County4621.153
Todd County4647.044
Bourbon County5524.659
Gallatin County5556.833
Harlan County5520.054
Johnson County5522.633
Knott County5537.230
Marshall County5515.884
Nicholas County5564.024
Rowan County5520.341
Letcher County4524.848
Meade County4516.478
Trigg County4534.343
Owen County3543.728
Boyd County448.441
Estill County4428.616
Lewis County4431.147
McLean County4443.818
Russell County4421.732
Bell County3417.458
Garrard County3422.230
Rockcastle County3424.757
Anderson County3312.129
Carroll County3327.033
Carter County3311.556
Clinton County3332.729
Crittenden County3333.425
Hickman County3368.310
Livingston County3334.020
Mason County3317.734
Metcalfe County3328.420
Pendleton County3320.221
Spencer County3314.424
Wayne County3315.348
Edmonson County1–2323.724
Greenup County1–238.534
Adair County1–21–2—45
Ballard County1–21–2—33
Bracken County1–21–2—19
Butler County1–21–2—42
Calloway County1–21–2—58
Carlisle County1–21–2—14
Casey County1–21–2—31
Clay County1–21–2—56
Elliott County1–21–2—14
Fleming County1–21–2—17
Franklin County1–21–2—51
Green County1–21–2—31
Hancock County1–21–2—17
Henry County1–21–2—41
Magoffin County1–21–2—34
Martin County1–21–2—17
Simpson County1–21–2—46
Trimble County1–21–2—24
Larue County1–21–2—43
Menifee County1–21–2—22
Union County1–21–2—28
Bath County1–21–2—33
Boyle County1–21–2—42
Breckinridge County1–21–2—54
Cumberland County1–21–2—17
Fulton County1–21–2—13
Grant County1–21–2—50
Harrison County1–21–2—23
Jackson County1–21–2—37
Lee County1–21–2—16
Leslie County1–21–2—27
Lyon County1–21–2—33
McCreary County1–21–2—46
Mercer County1–21–2—42
Monroe County1–21–2—12
Owsley County1–21–2—15
Washington County1–21–2—33
Webster County1–21–2—30

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

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

Weekday

Sunday11%
Monday16%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday11%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday18%

Road type

Other principal arterial25%
Minor arterial20%
Major collector18%
Local14%
Interstate11%
Minor collector11%
Other freeways and expressways2%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Kentucky in 2018?

724 people in 664 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2018 file, or 16.2 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Kentucky had the most crash deaths in 2018?

Jefferson County with 76 deaths in 74 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2018 compare with 2017 in Kentucky?

724 deaths against 782 in 2017 (+-7%). Nationally the 2018 total was 36,835.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2018 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.