States › West Virginia › 2016

2016

West Virginia in 2016

Deaths 269Fatal crashes 250Per 100,000 14.7US deaths 37,806

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 2016.

In 2016, 269 people died in 250 fatal crashes in West Virginia, 14.7 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.7 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2015 (268) and 2016 (269).

West Virginia accounted for 0.7% of the 37,806 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

27.6% 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 (24%).

39% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Wednesday was the most common day.

← 201520162017 →All years

Compared with 2015 and the nation

Measure	West Virginia 2016	West Virginia 2015	United States 2016
Deaths	269	268	37,806
Fatal crashes	250	246	34,748
Deaths per 100,000 residents	14.7	14.5	11.7
Crashes with a drinking driver	28%	28%	27%

Counties in 2016

Every county with a fatal crash in 2016, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 50 counties listed.

County	Fatal crashes	Deaths	Per 100,000	Deaths 2015–2024
Kanawha County	20	21	12.1	268
Berkeley County	14	16	11.7	147
Raleigh County	10	14	19.3	137
Monongalia County	12	12	11.0	107
Cabell County	11	11	12.0	117
Preston County	9	10	29.4	50
Harrison County	8	10	15.5	72
Nicholas County	9	9	37.5	63
Lewis County	7	9	54.6	48
Mercer County	8	8	13.9	101
Wood County	8	8	9.7	100
Randolph County	7	8	29.4	50
McDowell County	7	7	40.8	44
Jefferson County	6	7	11.4	79
Marion County	6	7	12.6	45
Greenbrier County	6	6	18.8	63
Hampshire County	6	6	25.2	65
Wayne County	6	6	16.0	86
Barbour County	5	6	39.0	30
Boone County	5	5	24.4	39
Braxton County	5	5	41.5	39
Mason County	5	5	20.2	46
Putnam County	5	5	8.8	62
Fayette County	4	4	10.4	62
Gilmer County	4	4	56.2	12
Jackson County	4	4	14.4	60
Logan County	4	4	13.1	67
Morgan County	4	4	22.5	23
Pendleton County	4	4	67.3	18
Tyler County	4	4	51.0	20
Grant County	3	4	36.5	32
Mineral County	3	3	11.2	32
Ohio County	3	3	7.3	44
Roane County	3	3	22.2	33
Webster County	3	3	37.8	13
Wyoming County	3	3	15.0	29
Ritchie County	1–2	3	36.7	21
Hardy County	1–2	1–2	—	42
Lincoln County	1–2	1–2	—	41
Monroe County	1–2	1–2	—	23
Upshur County	1–2	1–2	—	40
Clay County	1–2	1–2	—	18
Doddridge County	1–2	1–2	—	26
Hancock County	1–2	1–2	—	15
Marshall County	1–2	1–2	—	30
Mingo County	1–2	1–2	—	39
Pocahontas County	1–2	1–2	—	16
Summers County	1–2	1–2	—	24
Taylor County	1–2	1–2	—	15
Wirt County	1–2	1–2	—	8

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

12am2.8%

1am4%

2am1.2%

3am2.4%

4am2.8%

5am3.6%

6am3.2%

7am1.2%

8am2.4%

9am3.6%

10am4.4%

11am3.6%

12pm4.8%

1pm3.6%

2pm7.6%

3pm9.6%

4pm8%

5pm5.2%

6pm5.2%

7pm2.8%

8pm2.8%

9pm6.8%

10pm5.6%

11pm2.8%

Weekday

Sunday12%

Monday12%

Tuesday14%

Wednesday16%

Thursday15%

Friday16%

Saturday15%

Road type

Other principal arterial24%

Minor arterial23%

Major collector19%

Interstate16%

Local9%

Minor collector8%

Other freeways and expressways1%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in West Virginia in 2016?

269 people in 250 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2016 file, or 14.7 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in West Virginia had the most crash deaths in 2016?

Kanawha County with 21 deaths in 20 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2016 compare with 2015 in West Virginia?

269 deaths against 268 in 2015 (0%). Nationally the 2016 total was 37,806.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2016 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.