DENVER — Colorado’s scenic highways link its growing cities with mountain towns and outdoor destinations, but some of those same routes are also among the most dangerous in the state. A new analysis of fatal crash data shows several 10-mile stretches of interstate consistently rank as the deadliest for motorists, revealing where safety concerns are most urgent.
In Brief:
- I-70 in northeast Denver recorded the most fatal crashes in Colorado from 2019–2023.
- I-25 corridors through Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo also ranked among the deadliest.
- Nearly 22% of deadly crashes on top stretches involved pedestrians, highlighting urban safety risks.
- Researchers used NHTSA fatality data to map 10-mile segments with the highest crash concentrations.
The study, based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2019 to 2023, examined fatal crashes across Colorado using a rolling 10-mile window to identify the highway segments with the highest number of deadly collisions.
Denver Metro Area Leads in Fatal Stretches
The deadliest 10-mile stretch in the state lies along Interstate 70 in northeast Denver, beginning around Northfield Quebec Street and running east to E-470. That segment recorded 23 fatal crashes over five years, the highest total in Colorado.
The second-deadliest section runs through central Denver on Interstate 25, from West 84th Avenue south to the West 6th Avenue Freeway. The busy corridor, which cuts through downtown and the Mariposa District, saw 20 fatal crashes…