Car accident statistics for El Paso County, Colorado (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in El Paso County by year

Annual car accident deaths fell from 72 in 2020 to 69 in 2021, then rose to 75 in 2022. The count fell to 65 in 2023 before rising to 68 in 2024. The highest count was in 2022, and the lowest was in 2023. The 2024 count was 4 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The corresponding shares of all traffic deaths were 84.7% in 2020, 89.6% in 2021, 90.4% in 2022, 83.3% in 2023 and 87.2% in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 85, 77, 83, 78 and 78 in those respective years. Although all traffic deaths were unchanged between 2023 and 2024, both the car accident death count and its share increased.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in El Paso County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 199 deaths, or 57.0% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 73 deaths and 20.9%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 77 deaths and 22.1%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories describe the people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes, rather than limiting the count to passenger vehicle occupants. For a reader searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is crash location, rather than the deceased person's residence.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) collisions accounted for 100 car accident deaths, or 28.7%. Head-on collisions accounted for 44 deaths and 12.6%; rear-end collisions, 15 and 4.3%; and sideswipes, 12 and 3.4%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The largest row, Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport, recorded 178 deaths and 51.0%. This classification describes the first harmful event: examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. It does not mean another vehicle had to be physically moving to qualify as a collision with a motor vehicle in transport. A vehicle stopped in traffic can qualify.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 191 car accident deaths, or 54.7%, from 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 158 deaths and 45.3%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

By land-use classification, urban locations accounted for 279 deaths and 79.9%, while rural locations accounted for 70 deaths and 20.1%. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 25, representing 7.2%. These figures count deaths in the crashes, rather than deaths limited to occupants of the large trucks.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Colorado and the United States

El Paso County's car accident death rate was 9.4 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. That rate was lower than Colorado's 10.1 and the United States rate of 10.5. Among the listed neighboring counties, Pueblo County had the highest rate at 16.2, while Douglas County had the lowest at 5.6. El Paso County's rate fell between those listed neighbors' rates.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The county's 2024 population estimate of 752,356 is presented separately; that single year's estimate is not the denominator for the period's rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

Recorded characteristics of all fatal crashes

Recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in El Paso County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. As shares of all traffic deaths, speeding-related crashes accounted for 32.9%, roadway departure for 41.4%, and crashes at an intersection for 38.4%. Pedestrian involved accounted for 15.5%, and motorcycle involved for 29.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Hit-and-run and driver distraction reported each accounted for 4.7%; in a work zone accounted for 3.5%. Roadway departure had the largest share of the listed characteristics. A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap. These records are not findings of fault or cause.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault.

About these figures

FARS is a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. County counts follow crash location, not the residence of the people killed.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File remains subject to revision when replaced with the Final File. Car accident rates divide deaths for 2020 through 2024 by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate is not that denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Colorado car accident statistics (2020-2024)