CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Transportation researchers report that West Virginia’s fatality rate from road crashes exceeded the national average in 2015 though it was lower than 11 other states.
The University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute data released Tuesday show nearly 10.9 deaths per 100,000 U.S. residents in crashes, accounting for only 1.3 percent of all deaths that year.
West Virginia’s rate of 14.5 trailed Wyoming’s leading 24.7 crash deaths per 100,000 residents but exceeded Rhode Island’s lowest 4.3 deaths.
However, the report shows West Virginia’s overall mortality rate of nearly 1,223 deaths per 100,000 people from all causes led all states and the national average of 844.
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That includes the highest fatality rates from cancer and lung disease, the second highest rate from strokes and the fifth highest death rate from heart disease.