States › New Mexico › 1976
New Mexico in 1976
Deaths 549Fatal crashes 461Per 100,000 —US deaths 45,523
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 1976.
In 1976, 549 people died in 461 fatal crashes in New Mexico.
The death toll was about level between 1975 (555) and 1976 (549).
New Mexico accounted for 1.2% of the 45,523 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.
40% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.
Compared with 1975 and the nation
| Measure | New Mexico 1976 | New Mexico 1975 | United States 1976 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 549 | 555 | 45,523 |
| Fatal crashes | 461 | 466 | 39,747 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents | — | — | — |
| Crashes with a drinking driver | 0% | 1% | 20% |
Counties in 1976
Every county with a fatal crash in 1976, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 30 counties listed.
| County | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Per 100,000 | Deaths 2015–2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinley County | 66 | 78 | 113.1 | 278 |
| Bernalillo County | 66 | 74 | 11.0 | 1,043 |
| San Juan County | 51 | 58 | 48.0 | 285 |
| Valencia County | 37 | 45 | 55.7 | 99 |
| Sandoval County | 28 | 32 | 20.3 | 157 |
| Doña Ana County | 24 | 28 | 12.2 | 237 |
| Santa Fe County | 21 | 27 | 17.1 | 201 |
| Rio Arriba County | 16 | 20 | 50.1 | 116 |
| Otero County | 16 | 18 | 25.8 | 95 |
| Taos County | 12 | 18 | 52.2 | 80 |
| Chaves County | 16 | 17 | 26.7 | 113 |
| San Miguel County | 12 | 17 | 64.3 | 58 |
| Lea County | 11 | 15 | 20.0 | 194 |
| Lincoln County | 12 | 13 | 64.9 | 50 |
| Hidalgo County | 9 | 10 | 252.1 | 42 |
| Socorro County | 8 | 9 | 56.4 | 94 |
| Grant County | 8 | 8 | 29.0 | 56 |
| Sierra County | 4 | 8 | 70.2 | 37 |
| Eddy County | 6 | 6 | 9.8 | 148 |
| Colfax County | 5 | 6 | 48.8 | 44 |
| Luna County | 4 | 6 | 23.2 | 95 |
| Quay County | 4 | 6 | 71.4 | 50 |
| Catron County | 3 | 6 | 158.1 | 15 |
| Curry County | 5 | 5 | 10.6 | 59 |
| Guadalupe County | 4 | 4 | 91.2 | 87 |
| Los Alamos County | 3 | 4 | 20.3 | 8 |
| Torrance County | 3 | 4 | 25.0 | 103 |
| Mora County | 3 | 3 | 73.2 | 37 |
| De Baca County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 14 |
| Roosevelt County | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 45 |
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
Weekday
Questions and answers
How many people died in crashes in New Mexico in 1976?
549 people in 461 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1976 file.
Which county in New Mexico had the most crash deaths in 1976?
McKinley County with 78 deaths in 66 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.
How did 1976 compare with 1975 in New Mexico?
549 deaths against 555 in 1975 (+-1%). Nationally the 1976 total was 45,523.
Provenance
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1976 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.