Fatal Roads

States › West Virginia › 2020

2020

West Virginia · year

West Virginia in 2020

Deaths 267Fatal crashes 249Per 100,000 14.9US deaths 39,007

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 2020.

In 2020, 267 people died in 249 fatal crashes in West Virginia, 14.9 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.8 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2019 (260) and 2020 (267).

West Virginia accounted for 0.7% of the 39,007 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

32.5% 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 major collector roads (24%).

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

← 201920202021 →All years

Compared with 2019 and the nation

MeasureWest Virginia 2020West Virginia 2019United States 2020
Deaths26726039,007
Fatal crashes24924735,935
Deaths per 100,000 residents14.914.511.8
Crashes with a drinking driver33%24%27%

Counties in 2020

Every county with a fatal crash in 2020, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 47 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Kanawha County232313.2268
Berkeley County171913.9147
Wood County141619.3100
Jefferson County131524.579
Wayne County121437.286
Hampshire County111354.665
Jackson County101036.160
Mercer County101017.4101
Greenbrier County8825.163
Monongalia County787.4107
Randolph County7829.450
Fayette County7718.162
Upshur County7729.640
Grant County5654.732
Harrison County569.372
Nicholas County5625.063
Cabell County555.5117
Logan County5516.467
McDowell County5529.244
Raleigh County556.9137
Preston County4514.750
Mason County4416.146
Wetzel County4429.121
Braxton County3433.239
Boone County3314.639
Clay County3339.018
Doddridge County3339.426
Hancock County3310.715
Hardy County3320.942
Lincoln County3315.541
Marion County335.445
Mingo County3313.839
Morgan County3316.923
Ohio County337.344
Roane County3322.233
Wyoming County3315.029
Tyler County1–2338.320
Marshall County1–21–2—30
Pocahontas County1–21–2—16
Putnam County1–21–2—62
Taylor County1–21–2—15
Tucker County1–21–2—9
Barbour County1–21–2—30
Lewis County1–21–2—48
Mineral County1–21–2—32
Pendleton County1–21–2—18
Pleasants County1–21–2—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

12am1.2%
1am3.6%
2am1.2%
3am4%
4am0.8%
5am2%
6am4%
7am2.8%
8am2.8%
9am2.4%
10am5.2%
11am2.8%
12pm4.8%
1pm6%
2pm6.4%
3pm8.8%
4pm4.8%
5pm6.4%
6pm4.4%
7pm8%
8pm5.6%
9pm4.4%
10pm5.2%
11pm2%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday14%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday14%
Thursday11%
Friday13%
Saturday19%

Road type

Major collector24%
Other principal arterial22%
Minor arterial20%
Local14%
Interstate11%
Minor collector9%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in West Virginia in 2020?

267 people in 249 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2020 file, or 14.9 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in West Virginia had the most crash deaths in 2020?

Kanawha County with 23 deaths in 23 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2020 compare with 2019 in West Virginia?

267 deaths against 260 in 2019 (+3%). Nationally the 2020 total was 39,007.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2020 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.