Fatal Roads

States › West Virginia › 1990

1990

West Virginia · year

West Virginia in 1990

Deaths 481Fatal crashes 407Per 100,000 —US deaths 44,599

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 1990.

In 1990, 481 people died in 407 fatal crashes in West Virginia.

The death toll was about level between 1989 (468) and 1990 (481).

West Virginia accounted for 1.1% of the 44,599 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

44.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

Compared with 1989 and the nation

MeasureWest Virginia 1990West Virginia 1989United States 1990
Deaths48146844,599
Fatal crashes40740639,836
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver44%46%40%

Counties in 1990

Every county with a fatal crash in 1990, 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 County556235.7268
Mercer County212848.7101
Berkeley County172619.1147
Monongalia County172119.3107
Raleigh County151824.9137
Braxton County1118149.439
Logan County131755.667
Wood County121720.5100
Cabell County111314.2117
Nicholas County111354.163
Hampshire County121250.465
Grant County1011100.332
Jackson County101139.760
Marion County91119.845
Ohio County101024.344
Fayette County91025.962
Mingo County9941.539
Preston County9926.450
Harrison County8914.072
Jefferson County8914.779
Mason County8936.346
Putnam County7712.362
Hancock County6725.015
Pendleton County67117.818
Randolph County6725.750
Wayne County6718.686
Greenbrier County5618.863
Hardy County5641.942
Wyoming County4630.129
Doddridge County3678.826
Brooke County5523.515
Monroe County5540.123
Roane County5536.933
Webster County5562.913
Mineral County4518.732
Taylor County4530.415
Boone County4419.539
Clay County4452.018
McDowell County4423.344
Ritchie County4449.021
Calhoun County3468.112
Marshall County3413.630
Barbour County3319.530
Lincoln County3315.541
Morgan County3316.923
Wetzel County3321.821
Summers County1–2326.024
Gilmer County1–21–2—12
Tyler County1–21–2—20
Wirt County1–21–2—8
Lewis County1–21–2—48
Pocahontas County1–21–2—16
Upshur County1–21–2—40

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

12am5.9%
1am5.6%
2am6.1%
3am2.8%
4am2%
5am2.5%
6am2%
7am2.8%
8am3.1%
9am2.5%
10am3.6%
11am3.6%
12pm4.1%
1pm2.5%
2pm2.5%
3pm4.6%
4pm4.1%
5pm7.1%
6pm4.3%
7pm3.8%
8pm6.6%
9pm6.6%
10pm5.3%
11pm5.9%

Weekday

Sunday19%
Monday14%
Tuesday9%
Wednesday11%
Thursday14%
Friday15%
Saturday19%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in West Virginia in 1990?

481 people in 407 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1990 file.

Which county in West Virginia had the most crash deaths in 1990?

Kanawha County with 62 deaths in 55 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1990 compare with 1989 in West Virginia?

481 deaths against 468 in 1989 (+3%). Nationally the 1990 total was 44,599.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1990 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.