| Data years | 2020-2024[1][2][3][4][5] |
|---|---|
| Deaths in car accidents, 2020-2024 | 287[1][2][3][4][5] |
| Deaths in car accidents, 2024 | 41[5] |
| Average annual deaths per 100,000 residents | 13.4[1][2][3][4][5][6] |
| Population, July 1, 2024 (estimate) | 465,876[6] |
| 2024 data file | FARS Annual Report File[5] |
Osceola County car accident statistics record 287 deaths from 2020 through 2024, accounting for 88.6% of the county's 324 traffic deaths. In 2024, car accident deaths numbered 41, representing 85.4% of 48 traffic deaths that year. The period's car accident deaths occurred in 248 fatal crashes, with an average of 57.4 deaths per year. These counts describe crashes located in Osceola County, Florida.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
A car accident here means a fatal crash involving at least one passenger car, SUV, pickup or van. The death count includes everyone killed in those crashes, including people in other vehicles and Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping). The figures use NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System and Census Bureau population estimates, with population estimates used to calculate the average annual death rates.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Contents
Car accident deaths in Osceola County by year
Car accident deaths were unchanged at 55 in 2020 and 55 in 2021, then rose to 66 in 2022 and 70 in 2023. The count fell to 41 in 2024. Within the 2020 through 2024 period, 2023 had the highest count and 2024 had the lowest. The 2024 count was 14 deaths lower than the 2020 count.[1][2][3][4][5]
All traffic deaths numbered 59 in 2020, 60 in 2021, 76 in 2022, 81 in 2023 and 48 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents declined each year: 93.2% in 2020, 91.7% in 2021, 86.8% in 2022, 86.4% in 2023 and 85.4% in 2024.[1][2][3][4][5]
| Year | Deaths in car accidents | All traffic deaths | Share in car accidents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 55 | 59 | 93.2% |
| 2021 | 55 | 60 | 91.7% |
| 2022 | 66 | 76 | 86.8% |
| 2023 | 70 | 81 | 86.4% |
| 2024 | 41 | 48 | 85.4% |
Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.
Who died in Osceola County car accidents
People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 183 deaths, or 63.8% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 45 deaths, or 15.7%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 59 deaths, or 20.6%.[1][2][3][4][5][7]
Each category counts deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows the FARS classification rather than a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle; it can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.[1][2][3][4][5][7]
How the fatal car crashes happened
Angle (side impact) accounted for 68 deaths, or 23.7%; Head-on for 51, or 17.8%; Rear-end for 35, or 12.2%; and Sideswipe for 5, or 1.7%. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 128 deaths, or 44.6%, the largest manner-of-collision category.[1][2][3][4][5][7]
These car accident categories describe the first harmful event. The last category includes events such as striking a parked vehicle, a fixed object, a pedestrian or a cyclist, or a rollover. It means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. A motor vehicle stopped in traffic can still be in transport.[1][2][3][4][5][7]
Time of day and setting
Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 161 car accident deaths, or 56.1%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 126 deaths, or 43.9%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.[1][2][3][4][5]
The land-use classification recorded 203 deaths in urban locations, or 70.7%, and 81 in rural locations, or 28.2%. Unknown land use accounted for 3 deaths, or 1.0%. Separately, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 27 car accident deaths, representing 9.4% of the county's car accident deaths.[1][2][3][4][5]
Car accident death rate compared with Florida and the United States
Osceola County's car accident death rate was 13.4 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Florida's rate was 13.3, and the national rate was 10.5. The county rate was higher than both. These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates and do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Among the listed neighboring counties, rates were 10.9 in Orange County, 16.0 in Polk County, 13.1 in Brevard County and 13.9 in Lake County. Osceola's rate was higher than Orange's and Brevard's and lower than Polk's and Lake's. Polk had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties, while Orange had the lowest.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
| Area | Deaths, 2020-2024 | Average annual deaths per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| Osceola County, Florida | 287 | 13.4 |
| Florida | 14,871 | 13.3 |
| United States | 176,219 | 10.5 |
| Orange County, Florida (neighbor) | 799 | 10.9 |
| Polk County, Florida (neighbor) | 633 | 16.0 |
| Brevard County, Florida (neighbor) | 414 | 13.1 |
| Lake County, Florida (neighbor) | 286 | 13.9 |
Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.
Recorded characteristics of all fatal crashes
Recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Osceola County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accidents. Deaths and shares of all traffic deaths were: speeding-related, 20 and 6.2%; roadway departure, 124 and 38.3%; at an intersection, 99 and 30.6%; pedestrian involved, 55 and 17.0%; motorcycle involved, 58 and 17.9%; hit-and-run, 25 and 7.7%; driver distraction reported, 80 and 24.7%; and in a work zone, 6 and 1.9%.[1][2][3][4][5]
A crash can have several recorded characteristics. The rows therefore overlap and do not add to 100%. These classifications are not findings of fault or cause.[1][2][3][4][5]
| Recorded crash characteristic (all fatal crashes) | Deaths, 2020-2024 | Share of all traffic deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding-related | 20 | 6.2% |
| Roadway departure | 124 | 38.3% |
| At an intersection | 99 | 30.6% |
| Pedestrian involved | 55 | 17.0% |
| Motorcycle involved | 58 | 17.9% |
| Hit-and-run | 25 | 7.7% |
| Driver distraction reported | 80 | 24.7% |
| In a work zone | 6 | 1.9% |
A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault.
About these figures
FARS is a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes involving a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public, with a death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. Counts follow crash location, not residence. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should keep that geographic grouping in mind.[8][6][7]
The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate of 465,876 is not the denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.[8][6][7]
See also
References
- abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv "Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2020 national data files (Final File)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record
- abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv "Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2021 national data files (Final File)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record
- abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv "Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2022 national data files (Final File)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record
- abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv "Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2023 national data files (Final File)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record
- abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx "Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024 national data files (Annual Report File)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record
- abcdefghi "Annual resident population estimates for counties, April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025 (CO-EST2025-ALLDATA)". U.S. Census Bureau. Official source. Checked . Source record
- abcdefgh "Fatality Analysis Reporting System Analytical User's Manual, 1975-2024 (DOT HS 813 794)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record
- ab "Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2024 (DOT HS 813 791, April 2026)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record