Fatal Roads

States › West Virginia › 2019

2019

West Virginia · year

West Virginia in 2019

Deaths 260Fatal crashes 247Per 100,000 14.5US deaths 36,355

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 2019.

In 2019, 260 people died in 247 fatal crashes in West Virginia, 14.5 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.1 nationally.

The death toll fell 12% from 294 in 2018 to 260 in 2019.

West Virginia accounted for 0.7% of the 36,355 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

24.3% 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%).

35% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201820192020 →All years

Compared with 2018 and the nation

MeasureWest Virginia 2019West Virginia 2018United States 2019
Deaths26029436,355
Fatal crashes24726533,487
Deaths per 100,000 residents14.516.311.1
Crashes with a drinking driver24%22%26%

Counties in 2019

Every county with a fatal crash in 2019, 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 County15169.2268
Berkeley County151511.0147
Raleigh County141419.3137
Putnam County131424.562
Cabell County131314.2117
Mercer County121220.9101
Lewis County91060.748
Randolph County8933.150
Monongalia County887.4107
Nicholas County7833.363
Jefferson County7711.479
Wayne County7718.686
Logan County6619.667
McDowell County6635.044
Marion County6610.845
Wood County667.3100
Barbour County5639.030
Ohio County5614.644
Morgan County4633.723
Braxton County5541.539
Lincoln County5525.841
Mason County5520.246
Greenbrier County4515.763
Hampshire County4521.065
Upshur County4521.140
Mingo County4418.439
Preston County4411.750
Boone County3314.639
Clay County3339.018
Hardy County3320.942
Jackson County3310.860
Marshall County3310.230
Monroe County3324.123
Ritchie County3336.721
Tucker County3345.69
Tyler County1–2338.320
Brooke County1–21–2—15
Calhoun County1–21–2—12
Fayette County1–21–2—62
Harrison County1–21–2—72
Roane County1–21–2—33
Wetzel County1–21–2—21
Gilmer County1–21–2—12
Grant County1–21–2—32
Hancock County1–21–2—15
Mineral County1–21–2—32
Pendleton County1–21–2—18
Summers County1–21–2—24
Taylor County1–21–2—15
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

12am4.9%
1am3.3%
2am2%
3am1.2%
4am3.3%
5am3.7%
6am4.5%
7am2.8%
8am3.7%
9am4.5%
10am4.1%
11am3.7%
12pm3.3%
1pm6.1%
2pm4.1%
3pm6.1%
4pm8.1%
5pm6.9%
6pm3.3%
7pm5.7%
8pm5.7%
9pm2.8%
10pm2.8%
11pm3.7%

Weekday

Sunday12%
Monday15%
Tuesday15%
Wednesday14%
Thursday13%
Friday13%
Saturday19%

Road type

Other principal arterial30%
Major collector23%
Minor arterial20%
Interstate11%
Local10%
Minor collector6%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in West Virginia in 2019?

260 people in 247 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2019 file, or 14.5 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in West Virginia had the most crash deaths in 2019?

Kanawha County with 16 deaths in 15 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2019 compare with 2018 in West Virginia?

260 deaths against 294 in 2018 (+-12%). Nationally the 2019 total was 36,355.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2019 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.