Fatal Roads

States › West Virginia › 2018

2018

West Virginia · year

West Virginia in 2018

Deaths 294Fatal crashes 265Per 100,000 16.3US deaths 36,835

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 2018.

In 2018, 294 people died in 265 fatal crashes in West Virginia, 16.3 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.3 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2017 (304) and 2018 (294).

West Virginia accounted for 0.8% of the 36,835 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

21.5% 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 (26%).

37% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Thursday was the most common day.

← 201720182019 →All years

Compared with 2017 and the nation

MeasureWest Virginia 2018West Virginia 2017United States 2018
Deaths29430436,835
Fatal crashes26528033,919
Deaths per 100,000 residents16.316.711.3
Crashes with a drinking driver22%26%26%

Counties in 2018

Every county with a fatal crash in 2018, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 52 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Kanawha County354023.0268
Raleigh County181926.3137
Berkeley County141611.7147
Monongalia County131614.7107
Mercer County111526.1101
Cabell County111112.0117
Jackson County91036.160
Logan County8929.567
Putnam County8915.862
Harrison County7812.472
Wayne County7718.686
Wood County778.5100
Braxton County6758.139
Greenbrier County6618.863
McDowell County6635.044
Nicholas County6625.063
Hardy County5641.942
Doddridge County5565.726
Grant County5545.632
Hampshire County5521.065
Lincoln County5525.841
Boone County4524.439
Fayette County4513.062
Randolph County3518.450
Jefferson County446.579
Mineral County4414.932
Barbour County3319.530
Brooke County3314.115
Clay County3339.018
Mason County3312.146
Monroe County3324.123
Pendleton County3350.518
Wetzel County3321.821
Marion County1–235.445
Upshur County1–2312.740
Calhoun County1–21–2—12
Marshall County1–21–2—30
Mingo County1–21–2—39
Ohio County1–21–2—44
Pocahontas County1–21–2—16
Preston County1–21–2—50
Ritchie County1–21–2—21
Lewis County1–21–2—48
Roane County1–21–2—33
Gilmer County1–21–2—12
Hancock County1–21–2—15
Morgan County1–21–2—23
Pleasants County1–21–2—8
Summers County1–21–2—24
Tyler County1–21–2—20
Wirt County1–21–2—8
Wyoming County1–21–2—29

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

12am3%
1am1.5%
2am1.5%
3am1.9%
4am2.3%
5am1.5%
6am4.5%
7am3.4%
8am2.3%
9am1.9%
10am4.9%
11am4.5%
12pm5.7%
1pm3%
2pm7.5%
3pm7.9%
4pm4.9%
5pm7.9%
6pm8.3%
7pm7.5%
8pm2.3%
9pm3%
10pm3.8%
11pm4.9%

Weekday

Sunday12%
Monday13%
Tuesday15%
Wednesday15%
Thursday17%
Friday12%
Saturday16%

Road type

Other principal arterial26%
Minor arterial22%
Major collector20%
Interstate14%
Local11%
Minor collector7%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in West Virginia in 2018?

294 people in 265 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2018 file, or 16.3 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in West Virginia had the most crash deaths in 2018?

Kanawha County with 40 deaths in 35 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2018 compare with 2017 in West Virginia?

294 deaths against 304 in 2017 (+-3%). Nationally the 2018 total was 36,835.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2018 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.