Fatal Roads

States › Kentucky › 2020

2020

Kentucky · year

Kentucky in 2020

Deaths 780Fatal crashes 709Per 100,000 17.3US deaths 39,007

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 2020.

In 2020, 780 people died in 709 fatal crashes in Kentucky, 17.3 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 7% from 732 in 2019 to 780 in 2020.

Kentucky accounted for 2% of the 39,007 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

26.9% 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 minor arterial roads (24%).

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

← 201920202021 →All years

Compared with 2019 and the nation

MeasureKentucky 2020Kentucky 2019United States 2020
Deaths78073239,007
Fatal crashes70966735,935
Deaths per 100,000 residents17.316.411.8
Crashes with a drinking driver27%23%27%

Counties in 2020

Every county with a fatal crash in 2020, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 111 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Jefferson County11612415.61,088
Fayette County25267.9369
Boone County151812.5119
Hardin County151614.2199
Warren County151510.1178
Woodford County131554.156
Campbell County121516.088
Madison County141414.1109
Pike County141425.3162
McCracken County121420.7127
Bullitt County111416.3116
Laurel County121320.5132
Pulaski County121319.4136
Christian County111318.3120
Harlan County101247.954
Whitley County111129.585
Floyd County101131.9104
Kenton County8116.3108
Grant County91038.950
Scott County91016.285
Barren County9919.795
Daviess County998.6121
Nelson County9918.5112
Ohio County9937.658
Bourbon County8944.359
Marion County8945.352
Perry County8933.783
Jessamine County7915.965
Letcher County7944.748
Meade County6929.678
Hart County6840.255
Washington County7757.133
Calloway County6718.058
Clay County6735.756
Henderson County6715.878
Marshall County6722.184
Larue County5746.343
Rockcastle County5743.157
Allen County6627.253
Grayson County6622.286
Hopkins County6613.380
Lewis County6646.647
Bell County5626.058
Boyd County5612.641
Logan County5621.153
Oldham County568.559
Breckinridge County5523.654
Graves County5513.675
Russell County5527.132
Shelby County5510.067
Clark County4513.367
Jackson County4537.437
Leslie County4551.427
McCreary County4529.746
Adair County4420.845
Breathitt County4431.249
Edmonson County4431.724
Franklin County447.651
Henry County4424.741
Johnson County4418.133
Knox County4413.553
Magoffin County4436.034
Mason County4423.634
Morgan County4428.025
Pendleton County4426.921
Powell County4430.941
Simpson County4419.746
Todd County4431.444
Lincoln County3416.160
Mercer County3417.042
Montgomery County3413.964
Rowan County3416.241
Taylor County3414.954
Trigg County3427.543
Carroll County3327.033
Carter County3311.556
Crittenden County3333.425
Fulton County3347.813
Gallatin County3334.133
Greenup County338.534
Harrison County3315.423
Lyon County3333.033
Muhlenberg County339.868
Owen County3326.228
Trimble County3334.924
Wayne County3315.348
Wolfe County3347.140
Fleming County1–2319.217
Anderson County1–21–2—29
Ballard County1–21–2—33
Clinton County1–21–2—29
Cumberland County1–21–2—17
Knott County1–21–2—30
Menifee County1–21–2—22
Monroe County1–21–2—12
Nicholas County1–21–2—24
Spencer County1–21–2—24
Union County1–21–2—28
Bath County1–21–2—33
Boyle County1–21–2—42
Butler County1–21–2—42
Caldwell County1–21–2—37
Carlisle County1–21–2—14
Casey County1–21–2—31
Elliott County1–21–2—14
Estill County1–21–2—16
Garrard County1–21–2—30
Green County1–21–2—31
Lawrence County1–21–2—37
Lee County1–21–2—16
Martin County1–21–2—17

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

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

Weekday

Sunday13%
Monday12%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday14%
Thursday14%
Friday17%
Saturday18%

Road type

Minor arterial24%
Other principal arterial23%
Major collector17%
Local14%
Interstate12%
Minor collector9%
Other freeways and expressways1%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Kentucky in 2020?

780 people in 709 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2020 file, or 17.3 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Kentucky had the most crash deaths in 2020?

Jefferson County with 124 deaths in 116 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2020 compare with 2019 in Kentucky?

780 deaths against 732 in 2019 (+7%). Nationally the 2020 total was 39,007.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2020 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.