Arkansas truck accident statistics (2020-2024)

Truck accident deaths in Arkansas by year

Annual truck accident deaths were 88 in 2020, 116 in 2021, 108 in 2022, 95 in 2023 and 103 in 2024. Their respective shares of Arkansas traffic deaths were 13.5%, 16.8%, 17.0%, 15.9% and 17.1%. The highest death count occurred in 2021; the lowest occurred in 2020. The 2024 count was 15 deaths higher than 2020.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Arkansas's shares of the national large-truck death total were 1.8%, 2.0%, 1.8%, 1.7% and 1.9% in chronological order. Across 2020 through 2024, Arkansas accounted for 1.9% of 27,553 national deaths. The state's truck accident share of all traffic deaths was highest in 2024 and lowest in 2020.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised when NHTSA publishes the final file.

Who died in Arkansas truck accidents

People in other vehicles accounted for 321 truck accident deaths, or 62.9%. People in the large truck accounted for 139 deaths, or 27.3%. The row "Pedestrians, bicyclists and other people outside vehicles" recorded 50 deaths, or 9.8%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

That quoted label identifies the FARS nonoccupant grouping: pedestrians, pedalcyclists and other or unknown nonoccupants. Its other category can include occupants of vehicles not in transport, such as parked vehicles. It is therefore not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle when the crash occurred.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The trucks involved

The Arkansas truck accident records identify 542 large trucks in fatal crashes during 2020 through 2024. Truck-tractors accounted for 375 trucks, or 69.2%. The category Single-unit and other large trucks recorded 167 trucks. These figures describe the vehicles involved, rather than the number of people killed.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

Large trucks over 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating numbered 422, representing 77.9% of the large trucks recorded. There were 18 large trucks recorded as jackknifed and 15 carrying hazardous materials. Every count in this section measures trucks, not crashes or deaths; a fatal crash can involve multiple large trucks.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

Counts are trucks, not crashes. One crash can involve more than one large truck.

Interstates and crash types

Interstate truck accident deaths numbered 148 in Arkansas during 2020 through 2024, accounting for 29.0% of large-truck crash deaths. The interstate measure uses the interstate route classification and a parseable I-route number in the crash record.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

For the listed routes, I-40 recorded 65 deaths in large-truck crashes and 157 deaths from all crashes. I-30 recorded 44 and 123, respectively. The all-crash route counts are distinct from truck accident deaths. These route-coded rows are a subset, not a complete road network. Work-zone truck accident deaths numbered 24.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Counties with the most truck accident deaths

Among the listed counties, Pulaski County had the highest truck accident death count, 30, with an average annual rate of 1.5 per 100,000 residents. Benton County recorded 28 deaths and 1.8; Lonoke County, 22 and 5.8; Hot Spring County, 21 and 12.7; and Crittenden County, 20 and 8.5.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The highest listed rate was St. Francis County's 16.9, with 19 deaths. Washington County recorded 11 deaths and the lowest listed rate, 0.9. These rows are a county subset. Rates based on small death counts are sensitive to each death.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Up to 15 counties with the most deaths in the period, largest first. Rates for counties with few deaths change sharply with each death.

How Arkansas compares with the national rate

Arkansas's average annual truck accident death rate was 3.3 per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024, compared with the national rate of 1.6. The corresponding death counts were 510 for Arkansas and 27,553 for the United States. Arkansas's rate was higher than the national rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The denominator sums annual Census Bureau population estimates across the period, rather than using only the 2024 population of 3,096,080. Rates do not adjust for mileage or visitors. When reading these figures with a truck accident lawyer in mind, keep the location-based death counts distinct from the population-based rate calculation.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Manner of collision and setting

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. "Not a collision with another moving vehicle" recorded 159 deaths: it means no collision with a motor vehicle in transport, which can be stopped in traffic. Angle collisions recorded 130 deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime accounted for 342 deaths; nighttime, 168. Urban locations recorded 144 deaths; rural locations, 366. Separately, crash configuration recorded 117 deaths in single-vehicle crashes, 312 in two-vehicle crashes and 81 in crashes involving three or more vehicles. Configuration counts vehicles involved; it is separate from manner of collision.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Truck occupant deaths by crash configuration

Among people in the large truck who died in Arkansas during 2020 through 2024, 79 died in single-vehicle crashes and 60 in crashes involving multiple vehicles. These truck occupant deaths form a subset of truck accident deaths, excluding people in other vehicles and nonoccupants.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

About these figures

Arkansas counts use NHTSA FARS, a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes on trafficways customarily open to the public, with a death within 30 days. State and county assignments follow crash location, not the deceased person's residence. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded.^[9][6][7][8]

For Arkansas, 2020 through 2023 use Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide period deaths by summed annual Census Bureau Vintage 2025 populations and multiply by 100,000. The separate July 1, 2024 population is not that denominator. Mileage and visitors receive no adjustment.^[9][6][7][8]

See also

• I-30 truck accidents in Arkansas (2020-2024)
• I-40 truck accidents in Arkansas (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Arkansas car accident statistics (2020-2024) (caraccidentlawyers.wiki)
• Truck accident statistics for Pulaski County, Arkansas (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)
• Truck accident statistics for Benton County, Arkansas (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)
• Truck accident statistics for Lonoke County, Arkansas (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)
• Truck accident statistics for Hot Spring County, Arkansas (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)
• Truck accident statistics for Crittenden County, Arkansas (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)