Maricopa County Fatal Crashes — 4,734 Deaths in 9 Years

Maricopa County is home to over 4.5 million people — and an alarming number of traffic fatalities. Our analysis of the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) reveals 4,447 fatal crashes resulting in 4,734 deaths in Maricopa County between 2015 and 2023. The numbers are getting worse, not better.

The County-by-County Picture

Maricopa County dominates Arizona’s fatal crash statistics, but it’s not the only county with serious problems. Here are the top Arizona counties by fatal crash count (2015–2023):

• Maricopa County — 4,447 fatal crashes, 4,734 deaths
• Pima County — 1,187 fatal crashes, 1,269 deaths
• Pinal County — 543 fatal crashes, 622 deaths
• Mohave County — 445 fatal crashes, 513 deaths
• Yavapai County — 411 fatal crashes, 466 deaths
• Coconino County — 394 fatal crashes, 456 deaths
• Navajo County — 307 fatal crashes, 375 deaths
• Apache County — 249 fatal crashes, 289 deaths
• Gila County — 182 fatal crashes, 210 deaths
• Yuma County — 216 fatal crashes, 229 deaths
• Cochise County — 195 fatal crashes, 225 deaths
• La Paz County — 132 fatal crashes, 156 deaths
• Graham County — 60 fatal crashes, 71 deaths
• Santa Cruz County — 46 fatal crashes, 51 deaths
• Greenlee County — 10 fatal crashes, 10 deaths

Maricopa County accounts for nearly half of all fatal crashes in Arizona. This reflects both its population concentration and the particular dangers of the Phoenix metro’s road design — wide, high-speed arterials that function like highways but run through urban areas with pedestrians, cyclists, and cross-traffic.

The Trend Is Going the Wrong Direction

Year-over-year fatal crashes in Maricopa County:

Year	Fatal Crashes	Deaths
2015	371	396
2016	427	447
2017	445	475
2018	482	514
2019	445	479
2020	513	545
2021	561	607
2022	557	591

From 2015 to 2023, fatal crashes increased by 71% and deaths increased by 68%. The Maricopa County population grew by roughly 13% over the same period — meaning fatalities are growing several times faster than the population.

2020 saw a spike despite reduced driving during COVID — likely due to higher speeds on emptier roads and increased reckless driving. The post-COVID years (2021–2022) locked in the higher fatality rate.

Where the Fatalities Happen

Our data identifies the deadliest corridors:

Highways: I-10 leads with 519 fatal crashes, followed by US-60 (283), I-17 (242), and the Loop 101 and Loop 202 freeways.

Surface streets: Indian School Road (134 fatal crashes), Thomas Road (119), McDowell Road (117), Broadway Road (109), and 19th Avenue (97) are the deadliest arterials.

Concentration: The West Phoenix corridor between 43rd and 83rd Avenues accounts for a disproportionate share of surface-street fatalities.

Who Is Dying?

Fatal crashes in Maricopa County involve vehicle occupants (drivers and passengers) in the majority of cases, but pedestrians and motorcyclists are overrepresented relative to their share of road users. Phoenix consistently ranks among the most dangerous major cities in America for pedestrians.

What’s Causing the Increase?

Multiple factors are driving the upward trend: population growth adding more vehicles to already-stressed roads, higher speeds — both posted limits and actual travel speeds, distracted driving from smartphones, more impaired driving — DUI remains a persistent problem, and road design that prioritizes vehicle throughput over safety.

What This Means for You

If you’ve been injured in a Maricopa County car accident, you’re not a statistic — but statistics can help your case. This data demonstrates the foreseeability of crashes on specific roads, at specific times, under specific conditions. When we present your case to an insurance adjuster or jury, this context establishes that the danger was known, predictable, and that a reasonably careful driver should have exercised greater caution.

The Law Badgers built this database because we believe in preparation that goes deeper than anyone else. 4,447 fatal crashes in nine years. 4,734 lives lost. Every one of them left a family behind — and many of those families have legal rights they may not know about.

If you’ve lost a loved one or been seriously injured in a Maricopa County accident, call us at (833) DTF-IGHT.