Research/Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in Massachusetts
Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in Massachusetts
A study of the people MassDOT’s crash data records as killed while walking in Massachusetts: their ages, the light, the roads, and the communities where they were struck. Part one covers 2021 through 2023, the years MassDOT has closed. Part two carries the same analysis through 2024, 2025 and 2026 so far, using preliminary data.
Key findings
Official data, 2021–2023
- MassDOT’s crash data records 241 people killed while walking in Massachusetts from 2021 through 2023, about one in five of everyone killed in crashes (20.2%).
- 175 of the 240 whose age was recorded were 45 or older: 72.9%.
- 141 (58.5%) were killed in the dark.
- Of the deaths with a speed limit on record, 73.1% happened where the posted limit was 25 to 35 mph.
- 157 (65.1%) were struck inside a block group the state designates as an Environmental Justice population.
Preliminary data, 2024 to early October 2026
- MassDOT’s crash data records 189 more pedestrian deaths from January 2024 through early October 2026, again about one in five crash deaths (20.3%).
- People 65 and older made up 41.6% of those whose age was recorded, a larger share than in 2021–2023 (35.8%).
- MassDOT’s fatality dashboard, its most up-to-date count, shows 54 pedestrians killed from January 1 to early October 2026, against 50 at the same point in 2025.
Terms used on this page
- Pedestrian killed: a person MassDOT’s crash data records as a pedestrian with a fatal injury.
- In the dark: MassDOT’s light condition “dark,” whether the road was lit or unlit. Dawn and dusk are counted separately.
- Accepted road: a road listed in MassDOT’s road inventory as a city or town accepted road.
- Environmental Justice block group: a census area the state designates because of lower household income, a high share of residents of color, or many households with limited English, based on 2020 census data.
- Closed and open years: MassDOT treats a year of crash data as open, and subject to change, until it closes it. 2023 is the latest closed year. Figures for open years appear in part two and are labeled preliminary.
How the deaths were counted
This study counts every person MassDOT’s crash data records as a pedestrian killed in a Massachusetts crash from January 1, 2021 onward. The records come from police crash reports and were downloaded from MassDOT’s IMPACT crash data tool on October 6, 2026; the latest crash in the download is dated October 2, 2026. Each person is counted once, so a crash that killed two people walking counts twice.
The study has two parts. Part one covers 2021 through 2023, the years MassDOT has closed. Part two applies the same counts and definitions to 2024, 2025 and 2026 so far. MassDOT has not closed those years and says open-year data “should not be used for analysis,” so part two is labeled preliminary throughout.
Crash locations were checked against the state’s 2020 map of Environmental Justice block groups, published by MassGIS. Every figure on this page was calculated by a script from those sources, apart from the counts read from MassDOT’s fatality dashboard, and the tables behind each number are kept so the work can be checked.
Left out, and why:
- People killed while cycling, using a wheelchair or riding a scooter. MassDOT records them as other kinds of non-motorists.
- Deaths MassDOT records as not caused by the crash, and people who were hurt but not killed.
- Deaths with no speed limit on the crash report, from the speed limit figures only: 29 in part one and 7 in part two.
- Deaths with no age recorded, from the age figures only: 1 in part one and 4 in part two.
Data windows
- Part one, official: MassDOT crash data, January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023 (closed years).
- Part two, preliminary: MassDOT crash data, January 1, 2024 to October 2, 2026; MassDOT fatality dashboard counts read October 6, 2026.
- Environmental Justice map: 2020 block groups, last updated by MassGIS June 6, 2024.
- WalkMassachusetts reports: 2021 to 2025.
- All sources retrieved October 6, 2026.
One in five people killed on Massachusetts roads was walking
In the three years MassDOT has closed, 2021 through 2023, its data records 1,191 people killed in Massachusetts crashes. Of those, 241 were pedestrians: 20.2%, or about one in five. 2022 was the deadliest of the three, with 98 people killed while walking, 22.5% of all crash deaths that year.
| Year | Pedestrians killed | All crash deaths | Pedestrian share | Pedestrians 65+ | Killed in the dark | Hit-and-run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | 414 | 18.6% | 28 | 37 | 9 |
| 2022 | 98 | 435 | 22.5% | 36 | 66 | 7 |
| 2023 | 66 | 342 | 19.3% | 22 | 38 | 8 |
| 2021–2023 | 241 | 1,191 | 20.2% | 86 | 141 | 24 |
Source: MassDOT IMPACT crash data, person level, closed years, exported October 6, 2026.
Nearly three in four were 45 or older
Of the 240 pedestrians killed whose age was recorded, 89 (37.1%) were 45 to 64 and 86 (35.8%) were 65 or older. Together those two groups made up 72.9% of the deaths. People 25 to 44 accounted for 49 (20.4%).
| Age | Killed | Share of known ages |
|---|---|---|
| 15 and under | 4 | 1.7% |
| 16–24 | 12 | 5.0% |
| 25–44 | 49 | 20.4% |
| 45–64 | 89 | 37.1% |
| 65 and older | 86 | 35.8% |
Age not recorded for 1 person. Source: MassDOT IMPACT.
Most people were killed after dark
Of the 241 people killed while walking, 141 were killed in the dark: 58.5%. That count includes both lit and unlit roads. Another 79, or 32.8%, were killed in daylight, and 12 at dawn or dusk.
Most deaths happened on local streets with moderate speed limits
Of the 241 people killed, 153 (63.5%) were struck on a road a city or town has accepted, according to MassDOT’s road inventory, and 71 (29.5%) on a road MassDOT controls. Among the 212 deaths with a speed limit on the crash report, 155 (73.1%) happened where the posted limit was 25 to 35 mph. Roads posted at 50 mph or more accounted for 32, or 15.1%.
| Condition | Pedestrians killed | Share |
|---|---|---|
| In the dark (lit or unlit road) | 141 | 58.5% |
| In daylight | 79 | 32.8% |
| On a road with a posted limit of 25 to 35 mph* | 155 | 73.1% |
| On a road with a posted limit of 50 mph or more* | 32 | 15.1% |
| On a road a city or town has accepted | 153 | 63.5% |
| On a MassDOT road | 71 | 29.5% |
| In a hit-and-run crash | 24 | 10.0% |
| Inside an Environmental Justice block group | 157 | 65.1% |
Shares are of all 241 people killed, except *speed limit shares, which are of the 212 with a speed limit recorded. Sources: MassDOT IMPACT; MassGIS 2020 Environmental Justice block groups.
Drivers left the scene in 24 deaths
MassDOT’s data records 24 of the 241 deaths, or 10.0%, as hit-and-run crashes, in which the driver left the scene. The hit-and-run field was blank for 4 deaths.
Where the deaths happened
Of the 241 people killed, 157 (65.1%) were struck at a location inside a block group the state designates as an Environmental Justice population. Under the state’s criteria, these are neighborhoods with lower household incomes, a higher share of residents of color, or more households with limited English.
Deaths were spread across 103 cities and towns. Boston recorded the most, with 29, followed by Springfield with 20, Brockton with 9 and Worcester with 8. Larger cities have more people and more traffic, so these counts are not a measure of risk per resident.
| City or town | Pedestrians killed |
|---|---|
| Boston | 29 |
| Springfield | 20 |
| Brockton | 9 |
| Worcester | 8 |
| Chicopee | 7 |
| Lowell | 6 |
| New Bedford | 5 |
| Framingham | 5 |
103 cities and towns had at least one pedestrian killed. Counts are not adjusted for population. Source: MassDOT IMPACT.
Part two: 2024, 2025 and 2026 so far
Everything above uses the three years MassDOT has closed. The figures below apply the same counts and definitions to 2024, 2025 and 2026 through early October. They are preliminary. MassDOT has not closed these years; it says open-year data “are subject to change at any time” and “should not be used for analysis.” Read this part as an early look while the final figures are still to come, not as the official record.
Most patterns hold in the open years
MassDOT’s crash data records 189 pedestrians killed from January 2024 through early October 2026: 75 in 2024, 72 in 2025 and 42 so far in 2026. That is 20.3% of all crash deaths in those records, almost the same share as in part one (20.2%).
Most of the patterns from part one hold. 112 of the 189 (59.3%) were killed in the dark. Among the 182 deaths with a speed limit recorded, 133 (73.1%) happened where the limit was 25 to 35 mph. 20 (10.6%) were hit-and-run crashes, and 124 (65.6%) were inside an Environmental Justice block group.
Some shares moved. People 65 and older made up 77 of the 185 deaths with an age recorded, 41.6%, against 35.8% in part one. And more of the deaths happened on city or town roads: 135 (71.4%), against 63.5% in part one, with 43 (22.8%) on MassDOT roads. Roads posted at 50 mph or more accounted for 9.3% of the deaths with a speed limit recorded, against 15.1%. Boston (24), Springfield (12) and Brockton (10) again recorded the most deaths.
| Year | Pedestrians killed | All crash deaths | Pedestrian share | Pedestrians 65+ | Killed in the dark | Hit-and-run | In an EJ block group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 75 | 364 | 20.6% | 29 | 46 | 5 | 51 |
| 2025 | 72 | 352 | 20.5% | 30 | 43 | 9 | 44 |
| 2026* | 42 | 216 | 19.4% | 18 | 23 | 6 | 29 |
| 2024–2026 | 189 | 932 | 20.3% | 77 | 112 | 20 | 124 |
*2026 runs from January 1 to early October. All years in this table are open in MassDOT’s data and may change. Source: MassDOT IMPACT crash data, person level, exported October 6, 2026.
| Condition | 2021–2023: killed | 2021–2023: share | 2024–2026: killed | 2024–2026: share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In the dark (lit or unlit road) | 141 | 58.5% | 112 | 59.3% |
| In daylight | 79 | 32.8% | 66 | 34.9% |
| On a road with a posted limit of 25 to 35 mph* | 155 | 73.1% | 133 | 73.1% |
| On a road with a posted limit of 50 mph or more* | 32 | 15.1% | 17 | 9.3% |
| On a road a city or town has accepted | 153 | 63.5% | 135 | 71.4% |
| On a MassDOT road | 71 | 29.5% | 43 | 22.8% |
| In a hit-and-run crash | 24 | 10.0% | 20 | 10.6% |
| Inside an Environmental Justice block group | 157 | 65.1% | 124 | 65.6% |
| Aged 65 or older** | 86 | 35.8% | 77 | 41.6% |
Shares are of all people killed in each period (241 and 189), except *speed limit shares, which are of those with a speed limit recorded (212 and 182), and **age shares, which are of those with an age recorded (240 and 185). 2024–2026 figures are preliminary.
Counting 2026 while the year is still open
IMPACT’s count for 2026 is well below MassDOT’s own fatality dashboard. In the October 6, 2026 download, IMPACT records 42 pedestrians killed in 2026, while the dashboard, which MassDOT describes as its most up-to-date source on deaths, shows 54 from January 1 to early October. At the same point in 2025, the dashboard showed 50. The two sources differ for the earlier open years too, by smaller margins: 75 against 78 in 2024 and 72 against 77 in 2025. The 2026 breakdowns above are based on the 42 records available in IMPACT.
| Year | MassDOT IMPACT crash data | MassDOT fatality dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 75 | 78 |
| 2025 | 72 | 77 |
| 2026, to early October | 42 | 54 |
The fatality dashboard is built from preliminary NHTSA data. Both counts are preliminary. Sources: MassDOT IMPACT crash data, exported October 6, 2026; MassDOT IMPACT Fatal Crash Information dashboard, read October 6, 2026.
How these counts compare with WalkMassachusetts
WalkMassachusetts publishes a report on fatal pedestrian crashes each year. It builds its counts from news reports and checks them against MassDOT’s data, so its totals and MassDOT’s can differ by a few deaths. Where WalkMassachusetts states a yearly total, the two run close.
| Year | MassDOT IMPACT | WalkMassachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | 75 |
| 2024* | 75 | 78 |
| 2025* | 72 | at least 76 |
WalkMassachusetts compiles its counts from news reports checked against MassDOT data. *MassDOT 2024 and 2025 figures are preliminary.
What this data cannot show
- Who was at fault. A crash record describes conditions and circumstances; it is not a finding of responsibility.
- Final figures for anything in part two. MassDOT may revise open years until it closes them, and its 2026 records are still arriving.
- Where the person lived. The Environmental Justice figure is based on where the crash happened.
- Risk per person. Counts are not adjusted for population, walking trips or traffic volume.
- Deaths that fall outside MassDOT’s crash records. WalkMassachusetts notes that a death occurring more than 30 days after a crash may be missing from crash counts.
If someone you know was struck while walking
Statewide figures describe a pattern, not any one crash. For a single crash, the useful records are the police crash report and the medical records. MassDOT directs people who need an official copy of a crash report to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. What applies to a particular crash depends on its facts.
For crash patterns within Boston, see the firm’s study of Boston crash patterns from 2015 to 2025. For statewide deaths, crashes and injuries, see Massachusetts Traffic Injury by the Numbers.
Citing this page
Larson Law Boston, “Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in Massachusetts,” published October 6, 2026. Data windows: official data, January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023; preliminary data, January 1, 2024 to October 2, 2026. Data retrieved October 6, 2026.
The tables on this page may be reproduced with attribution and a link to this page. Press and research inquiries: marketing@dlarsonlaw.com
Sources
- MassDOT, IMPACT Crash Query and Visualization Tool. Person-level query of fatal crashes, exported October 6, 2026, with records through October 2, 2026.
- MassDOT, IMPACT Fatal Crash Information dashboard. Pedestrian deaths by year and year to date. Read October 6, 2026.
- MassGIS and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, 2020 Environmental Justice Populations. Read October 6, 2026.
- WalkMassachusetts, Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA reports, 2021 to 2025. Read October 6, 2026.
- WalkMassachusetts, 2021 report press release. March 25, 2022.
- WalkMassachusetts, 2024 report press release. April 2, 2025.
- WalkMassachusetts, 2025 report press release. June 17, 2026.
If you were hurt and have questions
These pages explain what the public record shows. They are not advice about a specific situation, and what applies to a particular case depends on its facts. If something here raises a question about your own circumstances, you are welcome to get in touch.