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2004

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 2004

Deaths 1,573Fatal crashes 1,417Per 100,000 18.4US deaths 42,836

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 2004.

In 2004, 1,573 people died in 1,417 fatal crashes in North Carolina, 18.4 deaths per 100,000 residents against 14.6 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2003 (1,553) and 2004 (1,573).

North Carolina accounted for 3.7% of the 42,836 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

35.7% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

30% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 2003 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 2004North Carolina 2003United States 2004
Deaths1,5731,55342,836
Fatal crashes1,4171,39638,444
Deaths per 100,000 residents18.418.414.6
Crashes with a drinking driver36%36%34%

Counties in 2004

Every county with a fatal crash in 2004, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 99 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Mecklenburg County63726.01,059
Wake County64715.8772
Robeson County496151.4531
Cumberland County495115.1501
Johnston County425020.0341
Guilford County44468.2649
Nash County303838.8232
Randolph County303422.9261
Columbus County253467.9204
Durham County31339.6296
Iredell County313316.0238
Forsyth County30328.0419
Harnett County303221.9293
Buncombe County282910.4347
Union County282911.0232
Catawba County252615.6237
Cabarrus County222610.6235
Craven County212625.0131
Gaston County222510.3277
Davidson County232413.5306
Onslow County222411.3231
Alamance County222312.6214
Cleveland County202221.5208
Brunswick County212112.6214
Moore County212119.4183
Rockingham County192122.5155
New Hanover County20208.2210
Wayne County172016.6209
Richmond County121945.2106
Wilson County171822.5164
Burke County161820.3142
Sampson County161829.8199
Henderson County171714.1123
Pitt County17179.4261
Rowan County171711.1233
Carteret County161724.293
Chatham County131720.3141
Orange County161610.5147
Scotland County131647.2120
Lenoir County151527.1129
Surry County141521.0141
Lee County121521.9135
Caldwell County111518.6123
Bertie County141482.660
Franklin County141417.6154
Hoke County141425.3138
Edgecombe County121326.5118
Stanly County121319.395
Jackson County111328.776
Martin County101360.446
Pender County101318.6159
Bladen County121240.3108
Halifax County111225.5152
Lincoln County111212.3127
Haywood County101219.0108
Granville County91117.9138
Hertford County101052.261
Duplin County9917.8181
Rutherford County9913.7118
Davie County8919.869
Wilkes County8913.6129
Warren County6947.271
Beaufort County8817.971
Dare County4821.043
Alexander County7719.157
Anson County7731.261
McDowell County7715.570
Montgomery County6622.891
Person County6614.960
Stokes County6613.170
Transylvania County6617.635
Vance County6614.295
Watauga County6610.958
Cherokee County5619.858
Currituck County4618.645
Perquimans County4644.621
Swain County4535.924
Yancey County4526.328
Ashe County4414.743
Madison County4417.945
Northampton County4424.173
Pamlico County4431.923
Pasquotank County449.763
Yadkin County4410.591
Caswell County3313.455
Chowan County3321.619
Gates County3329.134
Greene County3314.536
Mitchell County3320.018
Avery County1–2316.824
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Clay County1–21–2—21
Graham County1–21–2—36
Jones County1–21–2—26
Macon County1–21–2—54
Polk County1–21–2—35
Camden County1–21–2—9
Hyde County1–21–2—6
Washington County1–21–2—16

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

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

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday12%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday12%
Thursday14%
Friday14%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 2004?

1,573 people in 1,417 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2004 file, or 18.4 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 2004?

Mecklenburg County with 72 deaths in 63 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2004 compare with 2003 in North Carolina?

1,573 deaths against 1,553 in 2003 (+1%). Nationally the 2004 total was 42,836.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2004 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.