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2002

New Mexico · year

New Mexico in 2002

Deaths 449Fatal crashes 398Per 100,000 24.2US deaths 43,005

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 2002.

In 2002, 449 people died in 398 fatal crashes in New Mexico, 24.2 deaths per 100,000 residents against 15.0 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2001 (464) and 2002 (449).

New Mexico accounted for 1% of the 43,005 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

50% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

34% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 2001 and the nation

MeasureNew Mexico 2002New Mexico 2001United States 2002
Deaths44946443,005
Fatal crashes39841538,491
Deaths per 100,000 residents24.225.315.0
Crashes with a drinking driver50%45%36%

Counties in 2002

Every county with a fatal crash in 2002, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 32 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Bernalillo County687210.71,043
San Juan County414839.7285
McKinley County333652.2278
Doña Ana County273214.0237
Santa Fe County272717.1201
Rio Arriba County202255.1116
Lincoln County141889.950
Valencia County171721.099
Sandoval County161710.8157
Cibola County91348.7141
Quay County1212142.850
Hidalgo County612302.642
Eddy County111117.9148
Luna County101142.595
San Miguel County101141.658
Lea County81013.3194
Guadalupe County410228.187
Taos County8926.180
Otero County7811.595
Colfax County7756.944
Roosevelt County6632.145
Socorro County5637.694
Sierra County4652.737
Chaves County557.8113
Curry County5510.659
Grant County5518.256
Torrance County4425.0103
Union County3376.411
Catron County1–21–2—15
De Baca County1–21–2—14
Harding County1–21–2—4
Mora County1–21–2—37

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

12am5.5%
1am3%
2am3.5%
3am2.5%
4am2.8%
5am3%
6am3%
7am3.3%
8am2.8%
9am1.5%
10am3.8%
11am3.5%
12pm3.8%
1pm4%
2pm3.8%
3pm4.8%
4pm5.5%
5pm5.5%
6pm5.8%
7pm7.3%
8pm5.3%
9pm6.3%
10pm5.3%
11pm4.3%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday12%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday13%
Thursday12%
Friday14%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in New Mexico in 2002?

449 people in 398 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2002 file, or 24.2 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in New Mexico had the most crash deaths in 2002?

Bernalillo County with 72 deaths in 68 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2002 compare with 2001 in New Mexico?

449 deaths against 464 in 2001 (+-3%). Nationally the 2002 total was 43,005.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2002 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.