Mississippi Averages 28 Hit-and-Run Deaths Annually, Ranks 9th Nationally
| Key Highlights • Mississippi recorded 139 hit-and-run deaths across 135 fatal crashes from 2019 to 2023, averaging 28 deaths per year with a danger score of 64.9 out of 100 to rank 9th nationally. • Mississippi’s per-capita rate of 4.7 deaths per 100,000 residents sits 44 percent above the national average of 3.3, a disproportionate toll for a state ranking 35th in total population. • Louisiana, sharing the Gulf Coast corridor with Mississippi, records 6.6 deaths per 100,000 and ranks 2nd nationally, underscoring how the same regional risk pattern elevates danger across neighbouring states. |
Every 13 days, a Mississippi driver flees a fatal crash, leaving another victim on roads that rank among the nation’s most dangerous. Between 2019 and 2023, 139 people were killed in hit-and-run incidents across the Magnolia State at a per-capita rate of 4.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, 44 percent above the national average.
The study by DeHoyos Accident Attorneys exposes how Mississippi punches well above its population weight, cementing its position as one of America’s nine most lethal states for hit-and-run fatalities.
Mississippi’s Hit-and-Run Danger at a Glance
| Metric | Mississippi | National Standing |
| Total Deaths (2019–2023) | 139 | 29th nationally |
| Annual Average Deaths | 28 | 29th nationally |
| Fatal Crashes (2019–2023) | 135 | 29th nationally |
| Deaths per 100,000 Residents | 4.7 | 9th nationally |
| Deaths per Fatal Crash | 1.03 | 23rd nationally |
| Hit-and-Run Danger Score | 64.9 / 100 | 9th nationally |
Mississippi’s five-year toll of 139 deaths reflects a danger score of 64.9 out of 100, placing it 9th nationally despite ranking 35th in population. The state’s 4.7 deaths per 100,000 exceeds the national average by 44 percent, confirming that Mississippi’s risk is driven by structural highway danger, not sheer population size.
Mississippi Against Its Gulf Coast Neighbours
| State | Total Deaths | Deaths per 100k | National Rank |
| Louisiana | 300 | 6.6 | 2nd |
| Florida | 1,291 | 5.7 | 6th |
| Texas | 1,615 | 5.3 | 7th |
| Mississippi | 139 | 4.7 | 9th |
| Alabama | 171 | 3.3 | 24th |
Louisiana leads the Gulf Coast with 6.6 deaths per 100,000 and ranks 2nd nationally, while Mississippi at 4.7 ranks 9th, outpacing Alabama by 41 percent. All five Gulf Coast states rank within the top 24 nationally, confirming that the Gulf South corridor carries the highest regional concentration of hit-and-run fatality risk in the country.
Small State, Outsized Risk: The Mississippi Profile
| Measure | Value | Context |
| Raw Deaths (2019–2023) | 139 | 29th nationally by total count |
| Per-Capita Death Rate | 4.7 per 100k | 9th nationally |
| Deaths Above National Average | 44 percent | National average is 3.3 per 100k |
| Share of All 50-State Deaths | 1.0% | Outsized for 35th-ranked state by population |
| Raw Count vs. Per-Capita Gap | 20 positions | Population masks risk: raw count ranks 20 positions lower |
Unlike California and Texas, where outsized populations inflate raw death tallies, Mississippi’s danger cannot be explained by size. With only 139 deaths, the state ranks 29th nationally in raw count yet 9th in per-capita danger, a 20-position gap that reveals how lethally dangerous its roads are relative to population.
Methodology
DeHoyos Accident Attorneys analysed Mississippi’s fatal hit-and-run crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA FARS) covering 2019 through 2023, combined with 2023 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates. Per-capita death rates were calculated per 100,000 residents. The Hit-and-Run Danger Score combines normalised death rates weighted at 70 percent with crash severity weighted at 30 percent, scaled 0 to 100. Gulf Coast comparisons include Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama. Mississippi-specific findings are drawn directly from the national dataset.
Data Sources
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) https://cdan.dot.gov/query
- U.S. Census Bureau 2023 Population Estimates https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2023.S0101
- Research dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uJrK4xjOUTLQlPaIbO8TUAi6y2bzJh0SmX7NLLTOf9g/edit?usp=sharing
- Study by: https://www.dehoyosinjury.com/
About DeHoyos Accident Attorneys
DeHoyos Accident Attorneys represents motor vehicle accident victims including hit-and-run crashes, securing compensation for medical expenses and damages. The firm combines aggressive legal advocacy with data-driven safety analysis to promote accountability and safer roadways nationwide.
