By Allison Peck
LINCOLN, Neb. — Fifteen people were killed in traffic crashes on Nebraska roadways during December 2025, according to data released by the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
The fatalities occurred in 15 separate crashes statewide. NDOT reports that four of the nine vehicle occupants killed were not wearing seatbelts, while four were using seatbelts. Seatbelt use for one occupant was listed as unknown.
Ten of the fatalities occurred in rural locations, as defined by the Federal Highway Administration as areas with a population of fewer than 5,000. One fatal crash occurred on the interstate, while seven took place on other highways and seven occurred on local roads.
Pedestrians accounted for four of the December fatalities. One fatality involved a bicyclist, one involved an occupant of a motorized wheelchair, and one involved a person riding an all-terrain vehicle.
For the full year, Nebraska recorded 227 traffic fatalities in 2025, matching the total reported in 2023. That figure is down from 252 fatalities in 2024 and below the four-year average of 236 fatalities from 2021 through 2024.
NDOT reports that only 62 of the 170 vehicle occupants killed statewide in 2025 were using seatbelts.
Additional traffic fatality data, including daily counts, is available at ndot.info/tollcompare.
The report includes information available through January 14, 2026, from NDOT’s Highway Safety Section in the Traffic Engineering Division.