Kentucky has some of the nation’s deadliest roads. When researchers from a legal and medical referral network studied car accident statistic in the United States, they ranked the roads in the Bluegrass State as the nation’s sixth most dangerous. Government crash statistics support this conclusion. Traffic accidents claimed 774 lives in 2022 in the state, but some roads in the Bluegrass State are far deadlier than others. Here are some of Kentucky’s most dangerous roads.
Interstate 24
Interstate 24, which runs through Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, is the fifth most dangerous highway in the country according to a study conducted by an online insurance platform. Each 100-mile stretch of I-24 is the scene of 18.3 fatal accidents each year. One of those accidents took place in June 2019 near the Lyon County line. A 42-year-old man was killed and 13 people were injured when a distracted semi-tractor trailer driver struck a group of slow-moving vehicles in a construction zone.
Interstate 65
Interstate 24 may be the fifth most dangerous freeway in America, but it is not the deadliest highway in Kentucky. That dubious distinction goes to Interstate 65. The most dangerous stretch of this notorious highway is an interchange in Louisville that locals call Spaghetti Junction. The Kennedy Interchange is where Interstates 64, 65 and 71 converge, and it is a complex network or ramps and underpasses. Many of the fatal accidents on this stretch of road are caused by commercial vehicles that take curves too quickly and tip over.
U.S. Route 25
The three-mile stretch of U.S. Route 25 between State Champ Drive and Fariston Road in London was the site of nine fatal accidents between 2017 and 2019. U.S. Route 25 has no central median and many intersections, so accidents involving vehicles making turns are common.
Interstate 71
Fatal accidents caused by intoxicated motorists are worryingly common in Kentucky. One of these crashes took place in May 1988, and it led to the founding of the advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving. A church bus traveling on Interstate 71 in Carroll County was struck head-on by a drunk driver who was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-75 at a high rate of speed. The collision did not claim any lives, but the ensuing fire killed the bus driver and 26 of his passengers. The fatalities included 24 children.
Pine Mountain Road
Pine Mountain Road in Lecher County is known for its steep hills, narrow lanes and beautiful views. Even experienced drivers can find it difficult to remain vigilant when they are surrounded by beautiful vistas, which is why Pine Mountain Road is the scene of so many serious accidents. In July 1954, Americas deadliest ever single vehicle crash took place on Pine Mountain Road. A Buick sedan containing 12 people left the roadway, struck a hillside and caught fire. The driver escaped the inferno by climbing out of a window, but he was unable to save his family. Accident investigators blamed the crash on brake failure.
Staying Safe on Kentucky’s Deadliest Roads
Fatal accidents on Kentucky’s most dangerous roads are often caused by intoxicated or speeding drivers. If you have to travel on these roads and wish to reach your destination safely, you should observe the posted speed limit, maintain safe distances and be prepared to take emergency action at a moment’s notice.
