The deadliest intersections in the Northeastern United States

Intersections present a unique set of hazards for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Conflicting traffic patterns, limited visibility, and improper signaling often contribute to the high number of fatal accidents at these locations.

To better understand where motorists and other road users are at the highest risk of being killed, Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers examined data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on fatal accidents that took place between 2004 and 2022. 

During that span, over 21,000 people were killed at intersections in the Northeastern United States—with urban areas being particularly dangerous due to higher traffic volumes.

Key Findings:

• Nine of the 10 deadliest intersections in the Northeast are four-way intersections with traffic control signals.
• Rhode Island and Maine are the only two states with more than one intersection among the top 12 deadliest in the region.
• Three of the deadliest intersections can be found on US-1.
• 84% of all fatal intersection-related crashes at the intersections happened in urban areas—the most of any U.S. region. 
• Fatal intersection-related crashes are more likely to involve a pedestrian in the Northeast. In fact, one in four involved a pedestrian.

A Decline in Fatal Crashes

Unlike other major U.S. regions, the Northeast saw a decline in intersection-related fatalities during the observation period. Fatal crashes dropped by 8.5%, while the number of fatalities decreased by 9%. Despite this overall improvement, the Northeast had the highest proportion of pedestrian-involved crashes at intersections, with 27% of all crashes involving at least one pedestrian.

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The 10 Deadliest Intersections in the Northeast United States

Here are the intersections with the most fatal crashes during the observation period:

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus

Lalor Street and SR-129

With seven fatal crashes and seven fatalities, the intersection of Lalor Street and SR-129 in Mercer County, New Jersey is the deadliest in the Northeastern and among the five most dangerous intersections in the entire United States.   

Mercer County, New Jersey

• Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
• Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
• Fatal Crashes: Seven
• Fatalities: Seven

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus

SR-132 (Street Road) and SR-2019 (Knights Road)

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

• Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
• Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
• Fatal Crashes: Six
• Fatalities: Six

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus

Jamaica Ave and Woodhaven Boulevard

Queens County, New York

• Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
• Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
• Fatal Crashes: Five
• Fatalities: Five

Google Earth // Data SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy

SR-70 and Massachusetts Avenue

Ocean County, New Jersey

• Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
• Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
• Fatal Crashes: Five
• Fatalities: Five

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus, Airbus

C Street and US-1 Roosevelt Boulevard

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

• Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
• Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
• Fatal Crashes: Four
• Fatalities: Four

Google Earth // Airbus

CR-51 (Moriches-Riverhead Road) and CR-111 (Captain Daniel Roe Highway)

Suffolk County, New York

• Traffic Control Device: None
• Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
• Fatal Crashes: Four
• Fatalities: Four

Google Earth // Data SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy

Grand Avenue and Village Avenue

Nassau County, New York

• Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
• Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
• Fatal Crashes: Four
• Fatalities: Four

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus, Data SIO, NOAA

US-1 and East Jersey Street

Union County, New Jersey

• Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
• Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
• Fatal Crashes: Four
• Fatalities: Four

Google Earth // Data SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy

US-1 and East Grand Street

Union County, New Jersey

• Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
• Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
• Fatal Crashes: Four
• Fatalities: Four

Google Earth // Landsat / Copernicus, Airbus, Data SIO

Andover Road and US-130 (Burlington Pike)

Burlington County, New Jersey

• Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
• Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
• Fatal Crashes: Four
• Fatalities: Four

Data and Methodology

This analysis is based on fatal crash data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, for the years 2004 through 2022. Only crashes marked as “intersection-related” by the NHTSA were included. The Northeastern region is defined by the Census Bureau and includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

This story was produced by Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.