Car accident statistics for St. Lucie County, Florida (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in St. Lucie County by year

Car accident deaths numbered 43 in 2020 and remained at 43 in 2021. The count fell to 36 in 2022, rose to 42 in 2023 and reached 44 in 2024. The highest count was 44 in 2024, while the lowest was 36 in 2022. The 2024 count was 1 death higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 49 in 2020, 50 in 2021, 41 in 2022, 49 in 2023 and 50 in 2024. Car accident deaths accounted for 87.8% of traffic deaths in 2020, 86.0% in 2021, 87.8% in 2022, 85.7% in 2023 and 88.0% in 2024. These percentages describe each year's share of traffic deaths, rather than the share of crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

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 St. Lucie County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 128 deaths, or 61.5% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 31 deaths, or 14.9%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 49 deaths, or 23.6%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in fatal crashes involving a passenger vehicle, even when the person was classified in another category. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is crash location, rather than the person's residence.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) accounted for 43 deaths (20.7%), Head-on for 15 (7.2%), Rear-end for 27 (13.0%), Sideswipe for 5 (2.4%) and Other for 1 (0.5%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 117 deaths (56.2%). This means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; the classification does not require another vehicle to be physically moving.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 119 car accident deaths, or 57.2%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 89 deaths, or 42.8%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 165 deaths (79.3%), while rural recorded 41 (19.7%). Land use was unknown for 2 deaths (1.0%). Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 26, representing 12.5% of the county's car accident deaths during the period.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Florida and the United States

St. Lucie County's rate was 11.5 average annual car accident deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. That rate was lower than Florida's 13.3 and higher than the United States rate of 10.5. The corresponding death counts were 208 for the county, 14,871 for Florida and 176,219 nationally.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Martin County recorded a rate of 13.2 and Indian River County recorded 12.0. St. Lucie County's rate was lower than both. Martin County recorded 107 deaths, and Indian River County recorded 100. Rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

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 the county, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths. Speeding-related crashes accounted for 17 deaths (7.1%); roadway departure, 95 (39.7%); at an intersection, 69 (28.9%); pedestrian involved, 44 (18.4%); motorcycle involved, 40 (16.7%); hit-and-run, 18 (7.5%); driver distraction reported, 10 (4.2%); and in a work zone, 1 (0.4%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

These figures are not restricted to car accident deaths. A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The entries identify recorded characteristics, not findings of fault or cause.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

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. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a vehicle occupant or nonoccupant dying within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. Counts follow crash location, not residence.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when NHTSA replaces it with the Final File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, and multiply by 100,000. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate of 391,592 is not the denominator. These average annual rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Florida car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for St. Lucie County, Florida (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)