Fatal car crashes in Phoenix, Arizona
From 2020 through 2024, 1,428 people died in 1,360 crashes on streets and highways inside Phoenix, Arizona.
That is 17.1 deaths a year for every 100,000 residents, above the Arizona rate of 16.1 and above the US rate of 12.1.
I-10 (Noncard) had more fatal crashes than any other road here: 63, killing 68.
Hit-and-runs made up 16% of fatal crashes here, against 8% statewide.
In 2024, 279 people were killed, 25% more than in 2020 (223).
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2020-2024 · population: Census 2024 estimate, 1,673,164 · checked October 2, 2026
people killed in crashes, 2020-2024 (1,360 crashes)
deaths a year per 100,000 residents (Arizona 16.1, US 12.1)
pedestrians killed, 35% of all deaths here
of fatal crashes involved a driver police reported as drinking
Where the fatal crashes happened
Each dot is one crash that killed at least one person, placed at the coordinates in the police report. The outline is Maricopa County; the dots are crashes inside Phoenix city limits.
The deadliest roads in Phoenix
I-10 (Noncard) leads with 63 fatal crashes in five years. Roads are counted by the name in the crash report; a highway's frontage roads and ramps count toward it.
| # | Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-10 Noncard | 63 | 68 |
| 2 | I-17 Noncard | 60 | 68 |
| 3 | W Thomas Rd | 43 | 47 |
| 4 | SR-202 Red Mountain Fwy | 37 | 45 |
| 5 | N 19Th Ave | 33 | 35 |
| 6 | N 35Th Ave | 31 | 33 |
| 7 | N Cave Creek Rd | 31 | 32 |
| 8 | W Indian School Rd | 30 | 32 |
| 9 | N 51St Ave | 27 | 27 |
| 10 | N 43Rd Ave | 26 | 30 |
Deaths by year
When crashes turn deadly
61% of fatal crashes here happened in the dark. The single deadliest hour was 8 pm to 9 pm.
Saturday had the most fatal crashes (240), and 32% fell on a Saturday or Sunday.
By month, December was the worst (139 crashes across the five years).
What was involved
Shares of fatal crashes (or of deaths) in Phoenix, next to Arizona and the US. Red marks a share at least a quarter higher than the state's.
| Factor | Phoenix | Share | Arizona | US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding was a factor a driver coded by police as speeding, racing or too fast for conditions | 432 | 32% | 33% | 28% |
| A driver had been drinking police reported alcohol involvement for at least one driver | 253 | 19% | 20% | 26% |
| A large truck was involved a truck over 10,000 lbs | 94 | 7% | 11% | 13% |
| Hit-and-run a driver left the scene | 215 | 16% | 8% | 7% |
| Pedestrians killed share of all deaths | 494 | 35% | 21% | 18% |
| Motorcyclists killed share of all deaths | 245 | 17% | 17% | 15% |
| Bicyclists killed share of all deaths | 57 | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| Teens (15-19) killed share of all deaths | 82 | 6% | 6% | 7% |
After a crash in Phoenix
Crash reports here: how to get one from the Phoenix Police Department.
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Get the crash report
Statewide copies come from Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Department Records Unit, cost $9.00 by email (up to 5 MB) or fax (20-page limit); $9.00 on paper by mail for the first nine pages plus $0.10 per additional page; $10.00 on CD and are usually ready DPS receives completed trooper reports within 14 days of the incident; wait at least 14 days before checking.
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Know your deadline
Arizona gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542(1)). If a city, county or state vehicle was involved: Written claim must be filed with the public entity within 180 days after the cause of action accrues, and must state a specific settlement amount.
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Who pays
Arizona is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
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If you were partly at fault
If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can still recover even if you were mostly at fault (except for intentional, willful or wanton conduct).
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The other driver’s minimum coverage
The legal minimum liability coverage in Arizona is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $15,000 for property (25/50/15).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Arizona. Both take under a minute.
County around Phoenix
| County | Deaths 2020-24 | Per 100K a year | Pedestrians | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa County | 3,053 | 13.1 | 801 | 4,673,096 |
About these numbers
FARS counts every crash on a public road in which someone died within 30 days. It leaves out the far larger number of crashes that only injured people. Places are as coded in the report: a crash on a county road just outside city limits counts for the county, not the city. Rates use the Census 2024 population estimate and the five-year average.