(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — The El Paso County Coroner’s Office released the 2024 Annual Coroner’s Report for deaths in El Paso County, which showed a decrease in drug-related deaths but an increase in traffic deaths.

According to the Coroner’s Office, in 2024, there was a roughly 17% decrease in all accidental deaths and about a 27% reduction in accidental drug overdose deaths. The Coroner’s Office highlighted a decrease of around 44% for fentanyl deaths. Drug-related deaths in the unhoused population dropped by about 37%, and the number of deaths requiring autopsies fell by about 25%.

Another decrease was about an 18% decrease in suicides in the community, with a decrease of about 60% for suicidal deaths among minors.

The Coroner’s Office said it was not all good news; however, while there were 13% fewer autopsies in El Paso County, there was a nearly 34% increase in fatal motor vehicle incidents. The Coroner’s Office reports that in 41% of the fatalities, reckless driving and/or excessive speed were considered the primary cause of the crash at the time of the autopsy. In addition, 41% of these decedents were operating a motorcycle.

2024 also saw a 2% increase in total homicides–51 compared to 2023’s number of 50–and gun-related homicides held steady, according to the Coroner’s Office.