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1985

Missouri · year

Missouri in 1985

Deaths 931Fatal crashes 827Per 100,000 —US deaths 43,825

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 1985.

In 1985, 931 people died in 827 fatal crashes in Missouri.

The death toll was about level between 1984 (967) and 1985 (931).

Missouri accounted for 2.1% of the 43,825 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

34.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

29% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1984 and the nation

MeasureMissouri 1985Missouri 1984United States 1985
Deaths93196743,825
Fatal crashes82784139,196
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver34%32%40%

Counties in 1985

Every county with a fatal crash in 1985, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 103 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Jackson County10611215.41,067
St. Louis County64717.2899
St. Louis city515419.3613
Jefferson County373816.4345
Franklin County293330.8211
St. Charles County26317.3301
Greene County25289.1398
Clay County17197.2206
Buchanan County121517.9106
Vernon County121575.835
Cass County111513.2142
Dunklin County91555.673
Jasper County131310.3180
Platte County121311.5116
Cape Girardeau County111315.5110
St. Francois County111217.8120
Lawrence County111128.1123
Callaway County101124.484
Lincoln County91116.7114
Pemiscot County91176.462
Butler County71126.3102
Newton County101016.3166
Stone County91030.682
Boone County894.7192
Laclede County8924.587
Miller County8935.165
Ray County5938.845
Christian County888.393
Gasconade County7854.642
Stoddard County7828.160
Warren County7820.849
Wayne County7873.927
Webster County7819.082
Atchison County48155.713
Washington County7729.771
Benton County6734.045
Lafayette County6720.971
McDonald County6729.187
Phelps County6715.3108
Pulaski County6713.063
Barry County5719.7101
Cole County579.068
Randolph County4729.134
St. Clair County4771.131
Camden County6613.6107
Cooper County6635.033
Crawford County6626.358
Pettis County6613.772
Ripley County6656.037
Taney County6610.6115
Henry County5626.642
Howell County5614.780
Pike County5633.439
Daviess County5558.524
Texas County5519.474
Wright County5525.633
Andrew County4527.642
Johnson County458.986
Madison County4538.927
Cedar County4426.625
Mississippi County4434.031
Moniteau County4426.231
Schuyler County4498.37
New Madrid County3426.368
Osage County3429.723
Polk County1–2412.156
Audrain County3312.336
Bates County3318.340
Carroll County3335.725
Carter County3356.024
DeKalb County3330.430
Douglas County3324.436
Howard County3329.629
Linn County3325.222
Marion County3310.646
Montgomery County3326.139
Morgan County3313.463
Nodaway County3314.623
Oregon County3334.537
Perry County3315.739
Saline County3312.937
Scotland County3363.913
Bollinger County1–2328.333
Clinton County1–2313.830
Clark County1–21–2—19
Dallas County1–21–2—46
Hickory County1–21–2—32
Iron County1–21–2—28
Macon County1–21–2—32
Monroe County1–21–2—12
Reynolds County1–21–2—40
Scott County1–21–2—61
Adair County1–21–2—30
Caldwell County1–21–2—20
Gentry County1–21–2—10
Grundy County1–21–2—20
Harrison County1–21–2—20
Knox County1–21–2—5
Lewis County1–21–2—15
Mercer County1–21–2—9
Putnam County1–21–2—9
Ralls County1–21–2—37
Shelby County1–21–2—14

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

12am6.6%
1am7.2%
2am6%
3am2.6%
4am2.1%
5am1.5%
6am1.9%
7am2.3%
8am4.3%
9am2.8%
10am2.3%
11am4.5%
12pm2.4%
1pm4.5%
2pm4.3%
3pm5.5%
4pm4.6%
5pm6%
6pm4.9%
7pm3.9%
8pm4.3%
9pm4.9%
10pm4.9%
11pm6.2%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday9%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday12%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday22%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Missouri in 1985?

931 people in 827 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1985 file.

Which county in Missouri had the most crash deaths in 1985?

Jackson County with 112 deaths in 106 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1985 compare with 1984 in Missouri?

931 deaths against 967 in 1984 (+-4%). Nationally the 1985 total was 43,825.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1985 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.