Fatal Roads

States › North Carolina › 2019

2019

North Carolina · year

North Carolina in 2019

Deaths 1,457Fatal crashes 1,358Per 100,000 13.9US deaths 36,355

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 2019.

In 2019, 1,457 people died in 1,358 fatal crashes in North Carolina, 13.9 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.1 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2018 (1,436) and 2019 (1,457).

North Carolina accounted for 4% of the 36,355 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

22.1% 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 local roads (22%).

32% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201820192020 →All years

Compared with 2018 and the nation

MeasureNorth Carolina 2019North Carolina 2018United States 2019
Deaths1,4571,43636,355
Fatal crashes1,3581,32133,487
Deaths per 100,000 residents13.913.811.1
Crashes with a drinking driver22%27%26%

Counties in 2019

Every county with a fatal crash in 2019, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 96 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Mecklenburg County87917.51,059
Wake County74756.1772
Guilford County586110.9649
Cumberland County545616.5501
Robeson County394537.9531
New Hanover County363715.2210
Durham County31349.9296
Randolph County313322.2261
Forsyth County28317.8419
Buncombe County283010.7347
Nash County262929.6232
Cabarrus County252711.0235
Johnston County252610.4341
Iredell County242411.6238
Union County22238.7232
Harnett County212315.7293
Davidson County192312.9306
Onslow County202210.3231
Brunswick County202112.6214
Duplin County202141.6181
Catawba County192012.0237
Pender County182028.5159
Surry County182028.0141
Wayne County171915.8209
Granville County181829.2138
Cleveland County171817.6208
Gaston County17187.4277
Chatham County131821.5141
Columbus County151734.0204
Sampson County151728.1199
Burke County161618.1142
Lenoir County161628.9129
Pitt County16168.9261
Franklin County151620.1154
Orange County15159.8147
Rockingham County151516.0155
Rowan County15159.8233
Alamance County13147.6214
Bladen County121447.0108
Halifax County121429.8152
Lincoln County111414.3127
Moore County131312.0183
Edgecombe County111326.5118
Jackson County111328.776
Wilkes County111319.6129
Caldwell County121214.9123
Carteret County111217.193
Yadkin County111231.691
Craven County111110.6131
Haywood County101117.4108
Montgomery County101141.791
Hoke County91119.9138
Northampton County101060.373
Rutherford County101015.2118
Scotland County101029.5120
Watauga County101018.258
Henderson County8108.3123
Lee County9913.1135
Macon County9923.254
Caswell County8940.255
Bertie County8847.260
Davie County8817.669
Wilson County8810.0164
Stanly County5811.995
Ashe County7725.743
Cherokee County7723.058
McDowell County7715.570
Martin County7732.546
Currituck County5721.745
Chowan County6643.219
Pasquotank County6614.563
Richmond County6614.3106
Vance County6614.295
Dare County5615.743
Stokes County5613.170
Transylvania County5617.635
Greene County5524.236
Hertford County5526.161
Beaufort County4511.271
Graham County3561.136
Anson County4417.861
Warren County4421.071
Person County337.560
Swain County3321.524
Yancey County3315.828
Gates County1–2329.134
Alexander County1–21–2—57
Avery County1–21–2—24
Jones County1–21–2—26
Madison County1–21–2—45
Pamlico County1–21–2—23
Polk County1–21–2—35
Tyrrell County1–21–2—11
Alleghany County1–21–2—17
Clay County1–21–2—21
Perquimans County1–21–2—21

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

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

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday12%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday14%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday17%

Road type

Local22%
Minor arterial21%
Other principal arterial19%
Major collector16%
Interstate8%
Other freeways and expressways7%
Minor collector6%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in North Carolina in 2019?

1,457 people in 1,358 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2019 file, or 13.9 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in North Carolina had the most crash deaths in 2019?

Mecklenburg County with 91 deaths in 87 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2019 compare with 2018 in North Carolina?

1,457 deaths against 1,436 in 2018 (+1%). Nationally the 2019 total was 36,355.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2019 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.