Police Pursuit Fatalities in the US, 2009 to 2023

What were the characteristics of and trends in fatal motor vehicle crashes involving police pursuits in the US between 2009 and 2023, and were any factors associated with these crashes?In this cross-sectional study of 5425 fatal pursuit crashes over 15 years, deaths increased 2% annually after adjusting for population and crash frequency. More fatal pursuit crashes occurred at night, in urban areas, on noninterstate roads, and in southern states.The findings support risk-based restrictions, mandatory national reporting, and investment in nonpursuit technologies among US police.

Corresponding Author: Andrew Hendrix, MD, Department of General Surgery, University of Virginia, 1300 Jefferson Park Ave, Charlottesville, VA 22903 (drewhendrix091@gmail.com).

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