Fatal Roads

States › West Virginia › 2021

2021

West Virginia · year

West Virginia in 2021

Deaths 282Fatal crashes 259Per 100,000 15.8US deaths 43,230

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 2021.

In 2021, 282 people died in 259 fatal crashes in West Virginia, 15.8 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 6% from 267 in 2020 to 282 in 2021.

West Virginia accounted for 0.7% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

28.2% 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 (27%).

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

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasureWest Virginia 2021West Virginia 2020United States 2021
Deaths28226743,230
Fatal crashes25924939,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents15.814.913.0
Crashes with a drinking driver28%33%26%

Counties in 2021

Every county with a fatal crash in 2021, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 51 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Kanawha County333620.7268
Berkeley County192014.7147
Wood County141416.9100
Raleigh County111216.6137
Cabell County101010.9117
Mercer County9915.6101
Greenbrier County8928.363
Monongalia County898.3107
Logan County8826.267
Preston County8823.550
Doddridge County48105.126
Wayne County6718.686
Fayette County5718.162
Harrison County669.372
Upshur County6625.440
Hardy County5641.942
Ohio County5614.644
Putnam County5610.562
Barbour County5532.530
Lincoln County5525.841
Roane County5536.933
Hampshire County4521.065
Nicholas County4520.863
Boone County4419.539
Jackson County4414.460
McDowell County4423.344
Mason County4416.146
Wyoming County4420.029
Lewis County3424.348
Summers County3434.724
Braxton County3324.939
Grant County3327.332
Jefferson County334.979
Mineral County3311.232
Morgan County3316.923
Pendleton County3350.518
Calhoun County1–21–2—12
Clay County1–21–2—18
Mingo County1–21–2—39
Pleasants County1–21–2—8
Webster County1–21–2—13
Wetzel County1–21–2—21
Wirt County1–21–2—8
Brooke County1–21–2—15
Tucker County1–21–2—9
Marion County1–21–2—45
Marshall County1–21–2—30
Monroe County1–21–2—23
Pocahontas County1–21–2—16
Randolph County1–21–2—50
Tyler County1–21–2—20

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

12am2.3%
1am2.3%
2am2.3%
3am3.5%
4am1.5%
5am1.5%
6am2.7%
7am2.3%
8am1.9%
9am1.5%
10am4.2%
11am6.2%
12pm3.1%
1pm6.2%
2pm6.2%
3pm2.7%
4pm8.1%
5pm8.5%
6pm6.6%
7pm6.6%
8pm6.9%
9pm5%
10pm3.9%
11pm3.9%

Weekday

Sunday12%
Monday12%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday13%
Thursday16%
Friday21%
Saturday14%

Road type

Other principal arterial27%
Major collector23%
Minor arterial19%
Interstate14%
Local12%
Minor collector6%
Other freeways and expressways0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in West Virginia in 2021?

282 people in 259 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 15.8 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in West Virginia had the most crash deaths in 2021?

Kanawha County with 36 deaths in 33 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in West Virginia?

282 deaths against 267 in 2020 (+6%). Nationally the 2021 total was 43,230.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2021 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.