Fatal Roads

States › Oklahoma › 2021

2021

Oklahoma · year

Oklahoma in 2021

Deaths 762Fatal crashes 681Per 100,000 19.1US deaths 43,230

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 2021.

In 2021, 762 people died in 681 fatal crashes in Oklahoma, 19.1 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 17% from 653 in 2020 to 762 in 2021.

Oklahoma accounted for 1.8% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

27% 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 other principal arterial roads (30%).

33% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasureOklahoma 2021Oklahoma 2020United States 2021
Deaths76265343,230
Fatal crashes68160039,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents19.116.513.0
Crashes with a drinking driver27%29%26%

Counties in 2021

Every county with a fatal crash in 2021, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 72 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Oklahoma County10310713.1913
Tulsa County9510615.3792
Ottawa County182582.2117
Cleveland County23247.9240
McCurtain County192271.4129
Muskogee County192233.0116
Pottawatomie County151824.2155
Wagoner County161718.6106
Payne County151720.2135
Canadian County15168.8179
Logan County121527.875
Rogers County141413.8150
McClain County111428.9119
Mayes County111434.9125
Le Flore County81326.1136
Comanche County12129.9116
Grady County121220.6135
Bryan County111223.9125
Kay County111227.684
Sequoyah County101127.177
Carter County101020.498
Adair County91050.557
Cherokee County9918.586
Delaware County9921.582
McIntosh County9945.767
Choctaw County8963.559
Okfuskee County8979.244
Pittsburg County6920.7103
Stephens County6920.469
Pontotoc County7820.989
Seminole County6834.393
Creek County779.5147
Atoka County6747.954
Caddo County6726.686
Garfield County6711.369
Washington County6712.953
Custer County4724.859
Lincoln County6617.2108
Major County6679.341
Marshall County6637.241
Pushmataha County6655.639
Texas County6629.245
Murray County5643.644
Kingfisher County4637.946
Garvin County4519.183
Noble County4545.946
Nowata County4552.329
Osage County4510.889
Craig County4427.627
Johnston County4438.944
Okmulgee County4410.870
Washita County4436.934
Love County3438.458
Alfalfa County3352.516
Beckham County3313.567
Haskell County3325.428
Hughes County3322.430
Latimer County3331.526
Woodward County3315.040
Coal County1–21–2—8
Dewey County1–21–2—24
Kiowa County1–21–2—26
Pawnee County1–21–2—42
Beaver County1–21–2—39
Blaine County1–21–2—36
Cimarron County1–21–2—23
Cotton County1–21–2—21
Ellis County1–21–2—13
Greer County1–21–2—14
Harper County1–21–2—21
Roger Mills County1–21–2—12
Tillman County1–21–2—13

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

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

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday13%
Tuesday15%
Wednesday13%
Thursday12%
Friday15%
Saturday17%

Road type

Other principal arterial30%
Major collector25%
Minor arterial19%
Interstate13%
Local12%
Minor collector1%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Oklahoma in 2021?

762 people in 681 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 19.1 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Oklahoma had the most crash deaths in 2021?

Oklahoma County with 107 deaths in 103 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in Oklahoma?

762 deaths against 653 in 2020 (+17%). Nationally the 2021 total was 43,230.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2021 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.