COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Owen County, Kentucky
Road fatality data for Owen County (KY). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 23
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 2
- Latest Year Deaths
- 23.0
- Per 100k Residents
- Decreasing
- Trend
The verdict
Owen County's fatality rate of 23.0 per 100,000 residents leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure.
- 20%
- of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
- 18.7/100k
- Kentucky county average
- Decreasing
- fatality trend
What the Data Shows
Owen County, Kentucky recorded 23 total road fatalities across 20 reported crashes during the 2016-2023 reporting window, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The most recent year covered by the data logged 2 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 2.6 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 23.0 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Owen County in the current FARS release, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the Kentucky state page, which aggregates county-level case files into statewide totals. Either way, the underlying records are drawn from a census of fatal crashes, not a statistical sample, so the counts are actual deaths rather than estimates.
The directional trend for Owen County is decreasing, which suggests that road-design improvements, enforcement, or emergency-response changes are reducing the death toll. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether Owen County's 23-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.
Total Fatalities
23
Latest Year
2
Avg Annual
2.6
Rate per 100K
23.0
Trend
↓ Decreasing
How does Owen County compare?
Average annual road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Owen County is 23% deadlier than the comparison
Average annual road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents.
Among the 15 rated counties in Kentucky, Owen County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 18.7 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Owen County's rate and the state average is 4.3 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Bourbon County, at 25.8 per 100,000 (a difference of 2.8). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Breathitt County (37.1), Perry County (31.7), Lewis County (31.6), Rockcastle County (31.5), Grayson County (30.2), Todd County (29.6), Jackson County (29.0), Trigg County (28.5), Butler County (27.5), McCreary County (27.0), Hart County (26.9), Powell County (26.2), Floyd County (25.9), Bourbon County (25.8).
Owen County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
23 20th percentile a lower per-capita rate than 20% of 2,392 rated counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-06-03
Owen County's rate vs. the Kentucky state average
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Owen County, Kentucky?
Owen County recorded 23 total traffic fatalities across 20 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 2 fatalities. The county averages approximately 2.6 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Owen County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Owen County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Kentucky may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Owen County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Owen County is decreasing. This suggests road safety improvements are having a positive effect in the county.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Owen County?
Owen County has a fatality rate of 23.0 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
How does Owen County compare to the rest of Kentucky?
Owen County's per-capita rate of 23.0 per 100,000 residents is above the Kentucky county average of 18.7. Visit the Kentucky state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Owen County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) This information is for research and informational purposes only
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainRoadSafety is computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no number is typed in by an editor. County figures are computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.