Car accident statistics for Knox County, Tennessee (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Knox County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 47 in 2020 to 69 in 2021, then fell to 49 in 2022. The count rose to 78 in 2023 before falling to 69 in 2024. The highest count was in 2023, and the lowest was in 2020. The 2024 count was 22 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 53 in 2020, 77 in 2021, 53 in 2022, 86 in 2023 and 82 in 2024. The share recorded in car accidents was 88.7%, 89.6%, 92.5%, 90.7% and 84.1%, respectively. That share was highest in 2022 and lowest in 2024, 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 Knox County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 219 deaths, or 70.2% of car accident deaths in Knox County from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 44 deaths, or 14.1%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 49 deaths, or 15.7%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle, rather than deaths in every fatal crash. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is crash location, not the person's residence.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) accounted for 72 deaths (23.1%), Head-on for 43 (13.8%), Rear-end for 36 (11.5%), Sideswipe for 8 (2.6%) and Other for 1 (0.3%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 152 deaths (48.7%), the largest row. This means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; the category does not test whether another vehicle was physically moving.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 181 car accident deaths (58.0%) in Knox County from 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 129 deaths (41.3%). Time of day was unknown for 2 deaths (0.6%). Nighttime had the larger recorded count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 285 deaths (91.3%) as urban and 27 (8.7%) as rural. Separately, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 34 car accident deaths, or 10.9%. That count includes deaths in passenger-vehicle-involved crashes with a large truck.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Tennessee and the United States

Knox County's rate was 12.6 average annual car accident deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Tennessee's rate was 15.6, 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 312 for Knox County, 5,499 for Tennessee and 176,219 for the United States. No neighboring county rates are listed in the supplied figures.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separate 2024 population estimate of 507,597 is not the denominator used for 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 Knox County, of any vehicle type, with shares measured against all traffic deaths. Speeding-related crashes accounted for 74 deaths (21.1%); Roadway departure, 172 (49.0%); At an intersection, 90 (25.6%); Pedestrian involved, 57 (16.2%); Motorcycle involved, 62 (17.7%); Hit-and-run, 34 (9.7%); Driver distraction reported, 20 (5.7%); and In a work zone, 4 (1.1%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

These figures are not limited to car accident deaths. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap. The entries describe recorded characteristics rather than 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 NHTSA's 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 use crash location, not residence.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, and multiply by 100,000 for average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The July 1, 2024 population estimate is displayed separately and is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Tennessee car accident statistics (2020-2024)