Fatal Roads

States › West Virginia › 2017

2017

West Virginia · year

West Virginia in 2017

Deaths 304Fatal crashes 280Per 100,000 16.7US deaths 37,473

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 2017.

In 2017, 304 people died in 280 fatal crashes in West Virginia, 16.7 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.5 nationally.

The death toll rose 13% from 269 in 2016 to 304 in 2017.

West Virginia accounted for 0.8% of the 37,473 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

26.1% 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%).

30% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Thursday was the most common day.

← 201620172018 →All years

Compared with 2016 and the nation

MeasureWest Virginia 2017West Virginia 2016United States 2017
Deaths30426937,473
Fatal crashes28025034,560
Deaths per 100,000 residents16.714.711.5
Crashes with a drinking driver26%28%27%

Counties in 2017

Every county with a fatal crash in 2017, 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.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Kanawha County303117.8268
Cabell County151617.5117
Wayne County111334.686
Logan County101239.367
Mercer County91220.9101
Harrison County61218.672
Raleigh County101115.2137
Berkeley County10107.3147
Fayette County101025.962
Wood County101012.1100
Putnam County91017.562
Lewis County8848.648
Nicholas County8833.363
Jackson County7828.960
Roane County7859.133
Marion County7712.645
Monongalia County776.4107
Jefferson County5711.479
Greenbrier County6618.863
Randolph County6622.150
Lincoln County5525.841
McDowell County5529.244
Mineral County5518.732
Mingo County5523.039
Monroe County5540.123
Marshall County4517.030
Barbour County4426.030
Preston County4411.750
Tyler County4451.020
Hancock County3414.315
Boone County3314.639
Braxton County3324.939
Doddridge County3339.426
Gilmer County3342.212
Hampshire County3312.665
Mason County3312.146
Pocahontas County3339.216
Summers County3326.024
Wyoming County3315.029
Hardy County1–2320.942
Grant County1–21–2—32
Ohio County1–21–2—44
Taylor County1–21–2—15
Webster County1–21–2—13
Wetzel County1–21–2—21
Wirt County1–21–2—8
Brooke County1–21–2—15
Calhoun County1–21–2—12
Morgan County1–21–2—23
Ritchie County1–21–2—21

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

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday13%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday12%
Thursday16%
Friday16%
Saturday13%

Road type

Other principal arterial30%
Major collector25%
Minor arterial19%
Local10%
Interstate10%
Minor collector5%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in West Virginia in 2017?

304 people in 280 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2017 file, or 16.7 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in West Virginia had the most crash deaths in 2017?

Kanawha County with 31 deaths in 30 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2017 compare with 2016 in West Virginia?

304 deaths against 269 in 2016 (+13%). Nationally the 2017 total was 37,473.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2017 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.