Fatal Roads

States › Kentucky › 2023

2023

Kentucky · year

Kentucky in 2023

Deaths 814Fatal crashes 767Per 100,000 17.9US deaths 41,025

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 2023.

In 2023, 814 people died in 767 fatal crashes in Kentucky, 17.9 deaths per 100,000 residents against 12.2 nationally.

The death toll rose 9% from 744 in 2022 to 814 in 2023.

Kentucky accounted for 2% of the 41,025 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

25% 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 (24%).

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

← 202220232024 →All years

Compared with 2022 and the nation

MeasureKentucky 2023Kentucky 2022United States 2023
Deaths81474441,025
Fatal crashes76769337,769
Deaths per 100,000 residents17.916.512.2
Crashes with a drinking driver25%24%26%

Counties in 2023

Every county with a fatal crash in 2023, 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 County13013416.91,088
Fayette County494914.9369
Hardin County242623.0199
Pike County192137.9162
Pulaski County161725.4136
Daviess County151615.3121
Warren County151610.8178
Floyd County131646.3104
Nelson County141428.7112
Bullitt County121214.0116
Barren County101226.395
Boone County11117.6119
Logan County111138.653
Madison County111111.0109
Breckinridge County81151.854
Christian County101014.1120
Montgomery County91034.864
Scott County91016.285
Grayson County9933.286
Henderson County9920.478
Whitley County9924.285
Calloway County8923.158
Laurel County8914.2132
Ohio County8937.658
Woodford County8828.956
Simpson County5839.346
Clay County7735.756
Marshall County7722.184
Oldham County779.959
Gallatin County6779.533
Kenton County674.0108
McCracken County6710.4127
Breathitt County5754.749
Caldwell County6647.637
Campbell County666.488
Grant County6623.350
Hopkins County6613.380
Lincoln County6624.160
Perry County6622.483
Todd County6647.044
Wayne County5630.648
Webster County5646.730
Allen County4627.253
Boyd County5510.541
Carroll County5545.033
Clark County5513.367
Franklin County559.551
Henry County5530.941
Jackson County5537.437
Jessamine County558.965
McCreary County5529.746
Mason County5529.534
Meade County5516.478
Muhlenberg County5516.468
Rowan County5520.341
Russell County5527.132
Taylor County5518.754
Bourbon County4524.659
Butler County4539.842
Clinton County4554.429
Greenup County4514.234
Marion County4525.252
Powell County4538.741
Crittenden County3555.725
Casey County4425.131
Green County4434.631
Harlan County4416.054
Harrison County4420.523
Hart County4420.155
Rockcastle County4424.757
Trigg County4427.543
Washington County4432.633
Knox County3413.553
Adair County3315.645
Anderson County3312.129
Bath County3323.233
Bell County3313.058
Boyle County339.642
Bracken County3335.319
Carter County3311.556
Johnson County3313.633
Knott County3322.330
Martin County3328.017
Mercer County3312.842
Owsley County3376.415
Shelby County336.067
Lee County1–2341.016
Carlisle County1–21–2—14
Cumberland County1–21–2—17
Garrard County1–21–2—30
Graves County1–21–2—75
Hancock County1–21–2—17
Hickman County1–21–2—10
Lawrence County1–21–2—37
Leslie County1–21–2—27
Lewis County1–21–2—47
Lyon County1–21–2—33
Morgan County1–21–2—25
Owen County1–21–2—28
Spencer County1–21–2—24
Union County1–21–2—28
Nicholas County1–21–2—24
Ballard County1–21–2—33
Edmonson County1–21–2—24
Elliott County1–21–2—14
Estill County1–21–2—16
Fleming County1–21–2—17
Larue County1–21–2—43
Letcher County1–21–2—48
Livingston County1–21–2—20
McLean County1–21–2—18
Magoffin County1–21–2—34
Menifee County1–21–2—22
Metcalfe County1–21–2—20
Monroe County1–21–2—12
Pendleton County1–21–2—21
Wolfe County1–21–2—40

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

12am2.6%
1am2.9%
2am3.7%
3am2.3%
4am1.8%
5am3%
6am3.1%
7am3%
8am2.1%
9am4.4%
10am2%
11am3.3%
12pm4.6%
1pm3.9%
2pm5.5%
3pm6.4%
4pm6.8%
5pm8%
6pm5.9%
7pm4.2%
8pm5.5%
9pm5.6%
10pm4.7%
11pm4.8%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday15%
Friday18%
Saturday14%

Road type

Other principal arterial24%
Minor arterial22%
Local17%
Major collector16%
Minor collector11%
Interstate9%
Other freeways and expressways1%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Kentucky in 2023?

814 people in 767 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2023 file, or 17.9 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Kentucky had the most crash deaths in 2023?

Jefferson County with 134 deaths in 130 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2023 compare with 2022 in Kentucky?

814 deaths against 744 in 2022 (+9%). Nationally the 2023 total was 41,025.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2023 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.