Car accident statistics for St. Clair County, Illinois (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in St. Clair County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 27 in 2020 to 36 in 2021 and 42 in 2022. The count then fell to 33 in 2023 before rising to 34 in 2024. The highest count was 42 in 2022, and the lowest was 27 in 2020. The 2024 count was 7 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same sequence of increases and decreases: 32 in 2020, 40 in 2021, 47 in 2022, 36 in 2023 and 45 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 84.4%, 90.0%, 89.4%, 91.7% and 75.6%, respectively. That share was highest in 2023 and lowest in 2024.^{[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. Clair County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 127 deaths, or 73.8% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 10 deaths, or 5.8%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 35 deaths, or 20.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories describe people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows FARS classifications and can include occupants of parked motor vehicles. For a reader 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 36 deaths (20.9%), Head-on for 26 (15.1%), Rear-end for 9 (5.2%) and Sideswipe for 5 (2.9%). Unknown accounted for 2 deaths (1.2%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 94 car accident deaths (54.7%). 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 test whether another vehicle was 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 112 car accident deaths, or 65.1%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 60 deaths, or 34.9%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

By land-use classification, urban locations accounted for 149 deaths (86.6%), while rural locations accounted for 23 (13.4%). Separately, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 18 deaths, or 10.5% of the car accident death count. That truck figure counts deaths in the selected crashes, rather than a count of trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Illinois and the United States

The St. Clair County car accident death rate was 13.6 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Illinois had a rate of 8.4, and the national rate was 10.5. The county rate was higher than both.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighbors, St. Louis County, Missouri had a rate of 9.5; City of St. Louis, Missouri had a rate of 19.9; and Madison County, Illinois had a rate of 11.1. St. Clair County's rate was higher than St. Louis County's and Madison County's, and lower than City of St. Louis's. These rates use deaths divided by summed annual population estimates and 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 St. Clair County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accidents. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 87 deaths (43.5%); Roadway departure, 92 (46.0%); At an intersection, 42 (21.0%); and Pedestrian involved, 46 (23.0%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved accounted for 16 deaths (8.0%); Hit-and-run, 33 (16.5%); Driver distraction reported, 11 (5.5%); and In a work zone, 5 (2.5%). A crash can carry several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and their shares do not add to 100%. These classifications are 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 death within 30 days. Counts follow the county where the crash happened, not where the person lived. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final 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 is not the denominator. These are average annual deaths per 100,000 residents, without adjustments for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for St. Louis County, Missouri (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for City of St. Louis, Missouri (2020-2024)
• Illinois car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

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