You’re walking along a city sidewalk when sirens erupt behind you. Within seconds, a routine police pursuit turns into chaos. Tires screech, vehicles surge forward, and suddenly the danger isn’t just between officers and suspects—it’s aimed squarely at anyone nearby. What many pedestrians don’t realize is that police chases can pose a deadly risk to uninvolved bystanders.
A new study reveals that New Jersey has the highest likelihood of pedestrians being killed in fatal police pursuits in the United States.
The research by Florida-based Personal Injury lawyer Blakeley Law Firm analyzed fatal police pursuit crash data from 2019 to 2023 for all 50 states using the CDAN (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) database. The percentage of fatal pursuit crashes that resulted in a pedestrian death was calculated to identify the states where innocent bystanders face the greatest danger.
| Top 10 U.S. States Where Police Pursuits Are Most Likely to Kill Innocent Pedestrians | ||
| U.S. State | % of Fatal Crashes Killing Pedestrians by Police Pursuits | Rank |
| New Jersey | 25.00% | 1 |
| Idaho | 20.00% | 2 |
| Washington | 13.33% | 3 |
| Maryland | 12.50% | 4 |
| Nevada | 12.50% | 5 |
| Oregon | 10.53% | 6 |
| Illinois | 9.30% | 7 |
| Massachusetts | 9.09% | 8 |
| Colorado | 8.82% | 9 |
| Ohio | 7.81% | 10 |
New Jersey leads the nation, with 25% of fatal police pursuits ending in pedestrian deaths. From 2019 to 2023, the Garden State averaged 2 fatal pursuit crashes per year, with approximately 0.60 pedestrians killed annually. In a state with dense urban corridors and heavy foot traffic, these figures highlight the urgent need for stronger pursuit oversight to better safeguard uninvolved bystanders.
Idaho ranks second, where 20% of fatal police pursuits resulted in pedestrian fatalities. Over the five-year period, the Gem State saw an annual average of 1 fatal pursuit and 0.20 pedestrian deaths tied to police chases. In a region where high-speed rural pursuits can span long distances, these numbers underscore the growing importance of careful risk evaluation before initiating or continuing a chase.
Washington takes third place, with 13.33% of fatal police pursuits involving pedestrian deaths. From 2019 to 2023, the Evergreen State averaged 3 fatal pursuits each year and 0.40 pedestrians killed annually in these incidents. With busy metropolitan hubs like Seattle, the state’s data emphasizes the value of pursuing alternatives and improved urban safety protocols.
Looking at the study, a spokesperson at Blakeley Law Firm commented:
“The data highlights that states such as New Jersey, Idaho, and Washington show some of the highest percentages of fatal police pursuits that end in the deaths of innocent pedestrians.
“Police pursuits can escalate rapidly, and pedestrians–who have no connection to the event–often face the greatest danger. These findings underscore the importance of strict pursuit policies, better officer training, and enhanced risk assessments before initiating or continuing high-speed chases.
“Improving decision-making protocols and expanding alternative pursuit technologies could significantly reduce unnecessary pedestrian deaths.”
What the Data Reveals About Pedestrian Deaths in Police Pursuits
Legal analysts reviewing the data highlight several key insights:
- High pedestrian fatality shares often coincide with pursuit activity in dense urban environments.
- Differences in pursuit policies and officer discretion strongly influence bystander risk.
- Even small increases in pedestrian deaths can dramatically shift rankings due to low overall incident counts.
- Pedestrian victims are typically uninvolved bystanders, amplifying legal and public safety concerns.
- Wide variation across states may reflect differences in enforcement strategy, training, or access to pursuit alternatives.
Top 10 U.S. States Where Police Pursuits Are Most Likely to Kill Innocent Pedestrians
- New Jersey – 25.00%
- Idaho – 20.00%
- Washington – 13.33%
- Maryland – 12.50%
- Nevada – 12.50%
- Oregon – 10.53%
- Illinois – 9.30%
- Massachusetts – 9.09%
- Colorado – 8.82%
- Ohio – 7.81%
The Safest States
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Hawaii and North Dakota recorded zero pedestrian deaths in fatal police pursuits between 2019 and 2023, making them the safest states in the nation for bystanders during police chases.
The study was conducted by Blakeley Law Firm, a Florida-based personal injury law firm representing clients injured in motor vehicle accidents or those who have lost loved ones due to negligence. The firm focuses exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death claims.
Methodology
The study examined fatal police pursuit crashes from 2019 to 2023 across all 50 states using the CDAN (Fatality Analysis Reporting System). For each state, researchers calculated:
- Total number of fatal police pursuit crashes
- Total number of pedestrians killed in these crashes
- Percentage of fatal pursuits that resulted in pedestrian deaths
This percentage metric was used to rank states with the highest risk to innocent pedestrians during police chases, providing a normalized comparison that accounts for varying pursuit frequencies across jurisdictions.
Data Sources
- Crash Data: https://cdan.dot.gov/query
- Research Dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1s0CAAOE1sBEQlGrPtvJiPAAk_v2rwQSlEnDzGd5vm1k/edit?gid=0#gid=0