Fatal Roads

States › Kentucky › 2021

2021

Kentucky · year

Kentucky in 2021

Deaths 806Fatal crashes 734Per 100,000 17.9US deaths 43,230

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 2021.

In 2021, 806 people died in 734 fatal crashes in Kentucky, 17.9 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2020 (780) and 2021 (806).

Kentucky accounted for 1.9% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

26.6% 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 (23%).

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

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasureKentucky 2021Kentucky 2020United States 2021
Deaths80678043,230
Fatal crashes73470939,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents17.917.313.0
Crashes with a drinking driver27%27%26%

Counties in 2021

Every county with a fatal crash in 2021, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 115 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Jefferson County11612415.61,088
Fayette County364212.7369
Hardin County202219.5199
Warren County182013.5178
McCracken County152029.6127
Pike County161832.5162
Bullitt County161618.6116
Laurel County141523.7132
Christian County141419.7120
Henderson County121431.778
Daviess County131312.4121
Perry County131348.683
Meade County111239.478
Pulaski County111218.0136
Carter County101142.156
Shelby County81121.967
Marshall County101031.584
Muhlenberg County81032.868
Boone County7106.9119
Barren County9919.795
Oldham County9912.859
Bell County8939.058
Harlan County8935.954
Madison County899.0109
Morgan County7962.925
Calloway County8820.558
Lincoln County7832.160
Nelson County7816.4112
Scott County5813.085
Caldwell County7755.537
Grayson County7725.986
Kenton County774.0108
Ohio County7729.258
Ballard County6791.833
Jessamine County6712.465
Bath County5754.033
Todd County5754.944
Adair County6631.245
Breckinridge County6628.354
Clay County6630.656
Knox County6620.253
Graves County5616.375
Hopkins County5613.380
Metcalfe County5656.820
Woodford County5621.656
Allen County5522.753
Clark County5513.367
Floyd County5514.5104
Hart County5525.155
Knott County5537.230
Whitley County5513.485
Casey County4531.431
Edmonson County4539.624
Logan County4517.653
Wolfe County4578.640
Grant County3519.450
Breathitt County4431.249
Carroll County4436.033
Hancock County4444.417
Larue County4426.443
Lawrence County4425.337
Leslie County4441.127
Lyon County4444.133
McCreary County4423.846
Magoffin County4436.034
Montgomery County4413.964
Rowan County4416.241
Taylor County4414.954
Trigg County4427.543
Wayne County4420.448
Bracken County3447.119
Franklin County347.651
Trimble County3446.624
Bourbon County3314.859
Boyle County339.642
Butler County3323.942
Clinton County3332.729
Garrard County3316.630
Jackson County3322.537
Johnson County3313.633
Lee County3341.016
Lewis County3323.347
Marion County3315.152
Mason County3317.734
Rockcastle County3318.557
Russell County3316.332
Webster County3323.330
Boyd County1–236.341
McLean County1–2332.918
Carlisle County1–21–2—14
Crittenden County1–21–2—25
Estill County1–21–2—16
Fleming County1–21–2—17
Green County1–21–2—31
Harrison County1–21–2—23
Henry County1–21–2—41
Menifee County1–21–2—22
Monroe County1–21–2—12
Owsley County1–21–2—15
Simpson County1–21–2—46
Washington County1–21–2—33
Anderson County1–21–2—29
Campbell County1–21–2—88
Cumberland County1–21–2—17
Elliott County1–21–2—14
Fulton County1–21–2—13
Gallatin County1–21–2—33
Greenup County1–21–2—34
Letcher County1–21–2—48
Livingston County1–21–2—20
Martin County1–21–2—17
Mercer County1–21–2—42
Nicholas County1–21–2—24
Spencer County1–21–2—24
Union County1–21–2—28

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

12am3.7%
1am3.4%
2am2.9%
3am2%
4am2%
5am1.6%
6am3.4%
7am3.4%
8am2.7%
9am3.8%
10am4.4%
11am3.7%
12pm4.6%
1pm5%
2pm6.3%
3pm6.3%
4pm7.2%
5pm5.7%
6pm6%
7pm5.7%
8pm4.4%
9pm4.4%
10pm4.2%
11pm3%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday15%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday14%
Thursday13%
Friday15%
Saturday14%

Road type

Minor arterial23%
Other principal arterial22%
Local17%
Major collector15%
Interstate11%
Minor collector10%
Other freeways and expressways1%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Kentucky in 2021?

806 people in 734 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 17.9 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Kentucky had the most crash deaths in 2021?

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 2021 compare with 2020 in Kentucky?

806 deaths against 780 in 2020 (+3%). Nationally the 2021 total was 43,230.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2021 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.