Not really an answer to my question; you're saying how not to expire specifically due to one's own fault, not about the probability of a violent crime at a highway far from urban areas.

@DJClayworth, I don't like shady places, I would rather sleep in my car than in some motel with dirty beds and who-knows-what. In any case, my objection to staying at a hotel is that, a lot of time gets lost for planning, finding a hotel, looking at reviews / etc, booking, checking-in/out, unpack/pack etc. Plus, since you've paid for it, you have to take a daily shower, wake up on their schedule for their complementary breakfast etc etc, and that's a lot of time lost. I'd rather skip some nights from a hotel and enjoy the scenery than wasting my time on extra hotels.

@Karlson, I just like being right, that's all. :-) Also, interested in confirming or disproving my hypothesis.

@HaLaBi, it actually depends; an acquaintance of mine told me that her car flew across the other lanes with ongoing traffic, and landed on the other side of the road, and she was still alive and well

@MarkMayo, the question is specific that this is about the US; additionally, how exactly do you suggest that it's possible to freeze to death when you're sleeping and can at any time wake up (e.g. if it's too cold) and simply continue the trip at your whim?

@Karlson, my parents think that it's unsafe to sleep in the car (quoting Michael Jordan's father's death at a rest-stop in North Carolina in 1993), and I strongly disagree; because, from my past experiences, i simply know and accept that i can never make it to the hotel at the next hop of the trip prior to about 4am, so, I personally think that drowsy driving is more dangerous, but was looking for some more proofs and case-studies.