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1998

Virginia · year

Virginia in 1998

Deaths 935Fatal crashes 834Per 100,000 —US deaths 41,501

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 1998.

In 1998, 935 people died in 834 fatal crashes in Virginia.

The death toll fell 5% from 984 in 1997 to 935 in 1998.

Virginia accounted for 2.3% of the 41,501 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

29.6% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

Compared with 1997 and the nation

MeasureVirginia 1998Virginia 1997United States 1998
Deaths93598441,501
Fatal crashes83490037,107
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver30%34%30%

Counties in 1998

Every county with a fatal crash in 1998, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 114 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Fairfax County44464.0447
Chesterfield County24307.7292
Chesapeake city222610.2177
Suffolk city182322.3110
Hanover County202219.1164
Loudoun County20225.0133
Henrico County21216.2294
Norfolk city20208.7203
Richmond city19208.6205
Virginia Beach city19204.4271
Franklin County191934.1125
Augusta County181924.2160
Prince William County14193.8238
Accomack County181853.965
Henry County171836.4125
Fauquier County151823.7142
Spotsylvania County131811.8170
Stafford County151710.1108
Newport News city15168.7167
Halifax County141544.894
Pittsylvania County121525.2162
Botetourt County61441.071
Isle of Wight County121229.366
Wythe County111242.781
Rockingham County101213.7124
Portsmouth city101212.488
Orange County91230.867
Danville city101126.248
Pulaski County91132.846
York County91115.473
Albemarle County8119.4134
Scott County71151.443
Montgomery County91010.188
Culpeper County81017.871
Tazewell County61025.759
Sussex County9983.774
Patrick County8952.036
Carroll County8827.464
Frederick County888.2128
Roanoke County888.284
Russell County8831.565
Lynchburg city8810.046
Dinwiddie County6828.094
Bedford County778.5127
Brunswick County7744.467
Caroline County7720.988
James City County778.573
Prince George County7716.183
Southampton County7739.052
Roanoke city777.189
Amherst County6722.145
King George County6724.352
Lee County6732.135
Richmond County6776.019
Campbell County6610.8109
Charlotte County6653.344
Greensville County6653.837
Louisa County6614.295
Mecklenburg County6619.599
Warren County6614.142
Wise County6617.245
Goochland County5621.355
Appomattox County5529.531
Nelson County5533.960
Nottoway County5532.049
Rockbridge County5522.468
Shenandoah County5511.066
Washington County559.286
Amelia County4536.535
Gloucester County4512.556
New Kent County4518.458
Buchanan County3526.847
Smyth County4413.752
Hampton city442.9129
Grayson County3426.227
Surry County3460.817
Arlington County331.345
Bland County3348.513
Charles City County3345.729
Giles County3318.133
Lancaster County3327.121
Lunenburg County3324.924
Northampton County3325.044
Cumberland County1–2329.823
Powhatan County1–239.343
Alexandria city1–231.949
Petersburg city1–238.843
Charlottesville city1–236.717
Alleghany County1–21–2—27
Bath County1–21–2—13
Buckingham County1–21–2—49
Clarke County1–21–2—48
King William County1–21–2—32
Madison County1–21–2—30
Mathews County1–21–2—15
Middlesex County1–21–2—28
Page County1–21–2—45
Bristol city1–21–2—7
Harrisonburg city1–21–2—26
Hopewell city1–21–2—9
Martinsville city1–21–2—5
Williamsburg city1–21–2—7
Dickenson County1–21–2—17
Essex County1–21–2—29
Floyd County1–21–2—17
Fluvanna County1–21–2—28
Greene County1–21–2—19
King and Queen County1–21–2—31
Northumberland County1–21–2—21
Prince Edward County1–21–2—50
Rappahannock County1–21–2—13
Westmoreland County1–21–2—30
Buena Vista city1–21–2—1
Galax city1–21–2—2

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

12am2.7%
1am3.5%
2am3.4%
3am2.8%
4am2.9%
5am2.4%
6am2.9%
7am3.3%
8am3.4%
9am2.7%
10am3.3%
11am4.2%
12pm3.9%
1pm4.1%
2pm6.4%
3pm6.5%
4pm5.5%
5pm5.7%
6pm7.7%
7pm3.6%
8pm5.1%
9pm4.2%
10pm4.1%
11pm6%

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday14%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday12%
Thursday14%
Friday18%
Saturday17%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Virginia in 1998?

935 people in 834 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1998 file.

Which county in Virginia had the most crash deaths in 1998?

Fairfax County with 46 deaths in 44 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1998 compare with 1997 in Virginia?

935 deaths against 984 in 1997 (+-5%). Nationally the 1998 total was 41,501.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1998 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.