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1975

West Virginia · year

West Virginia in 1975

Deaths 461Fatal crashes 401Per 100,000 —US deaths 44,525

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 1975.

In 1975, 461 people died in 401 fatal crashes in West Virginia.

West Virginia accounted for 1% of the 44,525 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

3.5% 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 1974 and the nation

MeasureWest Virginia 1975—United States 1975
Deaths461—44,525
Fatal crashes401—39,161
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver3%—19%

Counties in 1975

Every county with a fatal crash in 1975, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 53 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Kanawha County475028.8268
Raleigh County212433.2137
McDowell County1922128.344
Wood County192125.4100
Wyoming County1720100.229
Greenbrier County151959.763
Fayette County131846.662
Cabell County171718.6117
Mercer County151729.6101
Wayne County141745.286
Nicholas County131562.563
Mingo County121464.539
Marion County121323.445
Berkeley County11128.8147
Logan County111239.367
Randolph County91244.150
Boone County101153.739
Mineral County101037.332
Monongalia County9109.2107
Upshur County5938.140
Harrison County7812.472
Barbour County3852.130
Webster County7788.113
Hampshire County4729.465
Preston County6617.650
Marshall County5517.030
Putnam County558.862
Jackson County4518.060
Jefferson County458.279
Pendleton County4584.118
Lincoln County4420.641
Taylor County4424.315
Wetzel County4429.121
Doddridge County3339.426
Lewis County3318.248
Morgan County3316.923
Ohio County337.344
Roane County3322.233
Tyler County3338.320
Hardy County1–2320.942
Ritchie County1–2336.721
Summers County1–2326.024
Brooke County1–21–2—15
Calhoun County1–21–2—12
Clay County1–21–2—18
Hancock County1–21–2—15
Monroe County1–21–2—23
Mason County1–21–2—46
Braxton County1–21–2—39
Gilmer County1–21–2—12
Grant County1–21–2—32
Pocahontas County1–21–2—16
Tucker County1–21–2—9

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

12am4.1%
1am4.1%
2am3.3%
3am4.6%
4am1.8%
5am1.8%
6am2.3%
7am1.5%
8am1%
9am2.6%
10am2.6%
11am4.4%
12pm5.9%
1pm4.4%
2pm5.4%
3pm6.4%
4pm5.4%
5pm4.9%
6pm6.4%
7pm4.6%
8pm6.2%
9pm6.4%
10pm5.9%
11pm4.1%

Weekday

Sunday13%
Monday11%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday13%
Thursday13%
Friday17%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in West Virginia in 1975?

461 people in 401 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1975 file.

Which county in West Virginia had the most crash deaths in 1975?

Kanawha County with 50 deaths in 47 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1975 compare with 1974 in West Virginia?

1975 is the first year in FARS; no earlier comparison exists.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1975 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.