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Fatal car crashes in Montana, county by county

From 2020 through 2024, 1,081 people died in 987 crashes on Montana roads. That is 19.0 deaths a year for every 100,000 residents, above the US rate of 12.1, and the 6th highest rate of the 50 states and DC.

Yellowstone County had the most deaths (115). The road stretch with the most fatal crashes was US-2 (9Th St W) in Flathead County (32). In 2024, 206 people were killed, 3% fewer than in 2020.

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2020-2024 · checked October 2, 2026

1,081

people killed in crashes, 2020-2024

19.0

deaths a year per 100,000 residents, 6th highest of 51 (US 12.1)

83

pedestrians killed, 8% of deaths (US 18%)

37%

of fatal crashes were speeding-related (US 28%)

Death rate by county

Deaths a year per 100,000 residents, 2020-2024. Rural counties often rank highest: fewer people, faster roads and longer waits for an ambulance.

Beaverhead County: 36 per 100,000 a year, 18 deathsBig Horn County: 101.6 per 100,000 a year, 65 deathsCarbon County: 38.3 per 100,000 a year, 22 deathsCascade County: 13.7 per 100,000 a year, 58 deathsFlathead County: 18.9 per 100,000 a year, 108 deathsGallatin County: 9.9 per 100,000 a year, 63 deathsGlacier County: 43 per 100,000 a year, 29 deathsGranite County: 72.2 per 100,000 a year, 13 deathsJefferson County: 57.1 per 100,000 a year, 38 deathsLake County: 28.7 per 100,000 a year, 48 deathsLewis and Clark County: 9.1 per 100,000 a year, 34 deathsLincoln County: 23.4 per 100,000 a year, 26 deathsMissoula County: 15.7 per 100,000 a year, 96 deathsPark County: 31 per 100,000 a year, 28 deathsPondera County: 42.8 per 100,000 a year, 13 deathsPowell County: 47.8 per 100,000 a year, 17 deathsRavalli County: 11.6 per 100,000 a year, 28 deathsRoosevelt County: 25.5 per 100,000 a year, 13 deathsRosebud County: 56.1 per 100,000 a year, 23 deathsSanders County: 33.1 per 100,000 a year, 23 deathsSilver Bow County: 7.7 per 100,000 a year, 14 deathsStillwater County: 36 per 100,000 a year, 17 deathsYellowstone County: 13.4 per 100,000 a year, 115 deaths
under 1010-1515-2020-3030+ too few crashes

The most dangerous roads in Montana

Fatal crashes by road within each county, 2020-2024. A long interstate shows up once per county it crosses.

#RoadWhereFatal crashesDeaths
1 US-2 9Th St W Flathead County, MT 32 34
2 US-93 Lake County, MT 24 26
3 US-93 Sr200 Missoula County, MT 18 21
4 I-90 Big Horn County, MT 17 21
5 US-93 Flathead County, MT 16 16
6 I-90 Gallatin County, MT 14 18
7 I-90 East Missoula County, MT 14 15
8 US-93 N 1St St Ravalli County, MT 14 15
9 I-90 Jefferson County, MT 13 16
10 I-90 East Yellowstone County, MT 12 14
11 US-191 Gallatin Rd Gallatin County, MT 12 13
12 US-2 Missoula Ave Lincoln County, MT 12 13
13 US-212 Big Horn County, MT 9 11
14 US-87 10Th Ave S Cascade County, MT 9 11
15 US-212 Beartooth Hwy Carbon County, MT 8 9

Deaths by year

Every Montana county

23 counties with 10 or more fatal crashes in five years, by deaths. 30 more had fewer than 10 and are listed after the table.

CountyDeaths 2020-24Per 100K a yearPedestriansPopulation
Yellowstone County 115 13.4 10 171,583
Flathead County 108 18.9 12 114,527
Missoula County 96 15.7 18 122,546
Big Horn County 65 101.6 7 12,796
Gallatin County 63 9.9 4 126,984
Cascade County 58 13.7 3 84,523
Lake County 48 28.7 5 33,403
Jefferson County 38 57.1 0 13,304
Lewis and Clark County 34 9.1 6 75,129
Glacier County 29 43.0 2 13,503
Park County 28 31.0 0 18,074
Ravalli County 28 11.6 0 48,187
Lincoln County 26 23.4 1 22,184
Rosebud County 23 56.1 1 8,194
Sanders County 23 33.1 0 13,895
Carbon County 22 38.3 2 11,498
Beaverhead County 18 36.0 0 10,006
Powell County 17 47.8 1 7,120
Stillwater County 17 36.0 2 9,450
Silver Bow County 14 7.7 4 36,134
Granite County 13 72.2 0 3,602
Pondera County 13 42.8 0 6,078
Roosevelt County 13 25.5 0 10,197

Fewer than 10 fatal crashes, 2020-2024: Blaine County (8 deaths), Broadwater County (11 deaths), Carter County (3 deaths), Chouteau County (12 deaths), Custer County (7 deaths), Daniels County (2 deaths), Dawson County (4 deaths), Deer Lodge County (9 deaths), Fergus County (9 deaths), Garfield County (4 deaths), Golden Valley County (5 deaths), Hill County (6 deaths), Judith Basin County (8 deaths), Liberty County (1 death), McCone County (3 deaths), Madison County (9 deaths), Meagher County (5 deaths), Mineral County (8 deaths), Musselshell County (11 deaths), Phillips County (6 deaths), Powder River County (6 deaths), Prairie County (2 deaths), Richland County (3 deaths), Sheridan County (2 deaths), Sweet Grass County (9 deaths), Teton County (3 deaths), Toole County (1 death), Treasure County (3 deaths), Valley County (11 deaths), Wheatland County (1 death).

What was involved

FactorMontanaShareUS
Speeding was a factor
a driver coded by police as speeding, racing or too fast for conditions		 366 37% 28%
A driver had been drinking
police reported alcohol involvement for at least one driver		 433 44% 26%
A large truck was involved
a truck over 10,000 lbs		 154 16% 13%
Hit-and-run
a driver left the scene		 30 3% 7%
Pedestrians killed
share of all deaths		 83 8% 18%
Motorcyclists killed
share of all deaths		 159 15% 15%
Bicyclists killed
share of all deaths		 9 1% 3%
Teens (15-19) killed
share of all deaths		 101 9% 7%

After a crash in Montana

  1. Get the crash report

    Montana Highway Patrol says it does not house city or county investigated crash photos, so reports from city police and sheriffs come from that agency's records unit; for example the City of Billings sells crash reports online and says to allow 10 business days after the crash.

    How to get a Montana crash report

  2. Know your deadline

    Montana gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(1)).

    Work out your date

  3. Who pays

    Montana is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.

    Montana car accident laws

  4. If you were partly at fault

    You can still recover if your fault is no greater than the combined fault of the people you are suing (50% or less), but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault; at 51% or more you recover nothing.

    The rule and its statute

  5. The other driver’s minimum coverage

    The legal minimum liability coverage in Montana is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $20,000 for property (25/50/20).

    Every state’s minimums

Check your deadline and a rough claim range

A filing date and a rough value range for Montana. Both take under a minute.

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