Car accident statistics for Buncombe County, North Carolina (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Buncombe County by year

Car accident deaths fell from 31 in 2020 to 27 in 2021, then rose to 31 in 2022. The count reached 44 in 2023 before falling to 39 in 2024. The highest count was in 2023, and the lowest was in 2021. The 2024 count was 8 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 32 in 2020, 31 in 2021, 36 in 2022, 47 in 2023 and 44 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 96.9%, 87.1%, 86.1%, 93.6% and 88.6%, respectively. That share was highest in 2020 and lowest in 2022, while the highest death count occurred in 2023.^{[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 Buncombe County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 109 deaths, or 63.4% of car accident deaths in Buncombe County during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 21 deaths, or 12.2%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 42 deaths, or 24.4%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. They do not restrict the death count to occupants of passenger vehicles. The FARS nonoccupant grouping is a person-type classification, not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 33 deaths, or 19.2%; Head-on for 18, or 10.5%; Rear-end for 9, or 5.2%; and Sideswipe for 6, or 3.5%. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 106 deaths, or 61.6% of car accident deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. The latter row includes events such as striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover, rather than a collision between motor vehicles in transport. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 81 car accident deaths, or 47.1%, during 2020 through 2024. Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 91 deaths, or 52.9%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 107 deaths, or 62.2%, while the rural classification recorded 65 deaths, or 37.8%. These counts describe crash locations in Buncombe County. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 13 car accident deaths, or 7.6%. Those deaths belong to the passenger-vehicle-involved crash count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with North Carolina and the United States

Buncombe County's car accident death rate was 12.5 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. North Carolina's rate was 13.4, and the United States rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than the state rate and higher than the national rate. The corresponding death counts were 172 for Buncombe County, 7,178 for North Carolina and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separately shown 2024 population estimate of 279,227 is not the denominator used to calculate the county 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 Buncombe County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Shares use all traffic deaths. Speeding-related recorded 51 deaths (26.8%); Roadway departure, 96 (50.5%); At an intersection, 36 (18.9%); and Pedestrian involved, 40 (21.1%). Motorcycle involved recorded 31 deaths (16.3%); Hit-and-run, 12 (6.3%); Driver distraction reported, 7 (3.7%); and In a work zone, 6 (3.2%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These classifications are recorded characteristics, 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 involving a motor vehicle on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, these counts are grouped by crash location, not where those killed lived.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File figures can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates use deaths divided by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, multiplied by 100,000. This gives average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjusting for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• North Carolina car accident statistics (2020-2024)