MS among states with most car crash fatalities on Halloween, study says. How to stay safe
A majority of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year, but the holiday can be dangerous — especially for Mississippians who have one of the highest rates of Halloween car crash fatalities, a recent study found.
Mississippi has the fourth-highest rate of Halloween crash fatalities between 2013 and 2023, at an average of 7.09 deadly car crashes per capita, according to an October study by personal injury law firm Andrew Pickett Law.
This is nearly double the national average of 3.88 deadly car crashes on Halloween, researchers at the law firm said.
“Mississippi drivers must take extra precautions this Halloween. Reducing speed in residential areas, staying alert, and avoiding distractions can literally save lives in your communities,” Andrew Pickett said in an Oct. 9 email to McClatchy News.
Here’s what you need to know to stay safe this Halloween.
How many people involved in fatal alcohol related crashes?
Between 2013 and 2023, 198 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes on Halloween in the U.S., according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Of the fatalities, 30 were pedestrians and 145 were drivers and passengers, according to the agency.
A majority of these crashes, 89% involved a drunk driver with BACs of .08 or higher, the data shows.
Which states have the highest rates of deadly car crashes on Halloween?
These are the top 10 states where deadly car crashes happen on Halloween and their fatal crash rates per capita, according to Andrew Pickett Law:
1. Kentucky, 9.10
2. South Dakota, 9.02
3. Arkansas, 7.64
4. Mississippi, 7.09
5. Oklahoma, 7.07
6. South Carolina, 6.84
7. Alabama, 6.77
8. Nebraska, 6.63
9. Tennessee, 5.79
10. Georgia, 5.69
Which states have the lowest rates of deadly car crashes on Halloween?
These are the 10 states with the least amount of deadly car crashes on Halloween and their fatal crash rates per capita, according to Andrew Pickett Law:
1. Vermont, 0
2. Hawaii, 0.69
3. New York, 1.39
4. New Jersey, 1.40
5. Massachusetts, 1.42
6. Illinois, 1.72
7. Delaware, 2.02
8. Kansas. 2.04
9. Minnesota, 2.10
10. Washington, 2.47
How to stay safe on Halloween
Here’s how to stay safe as 79% of U.S. adults and 93% of households with children plan to celebrate Halloween 2025 across the country, according to Andrew Pickett Law.
- Slow down in residential areas
- Eliminate distractions
- Make your child visible
- Plan a safe route and supervise young children
How did law firm conduct study?
To learn which states had the highest fatal Halloween car crashes per 1 million residents, researchers at Andrew Pickett Law analyzed data from the Department of Transportation from 2013 to 2023, according to the study.
This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 8:55 AM.
