Car accident statistics for Hampden County, Massachusetts (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Hampden County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 38 in 2020 to 54 in 2021, then fell to 46 in 2022, 36 in 2023 and 30 in 2024. The highest count was in 2021; the lowest was in 2024. The 2024 count was 8 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same yearly direction, with 44 in 2020, 59 in 2021, 55 in 2022, 42 in 2023 and 35 in 2024. The car accident share was 86.4% in 2020, 91.5% in 2021 and 83.6% in 2022. It then rose to 85.7% in 2023 and remained at 85.7% in 2024. The highest share occurred in 2021, while the lowest occurred in 2022.^{[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 Hampden County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 133 deaths, or 65.2% of car accident deaths in Hampden County during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 21 deaths, or 10.3%, making it the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 50 deaths, or 24.5%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category includes deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows the FARS classification and is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event in a car accident. Angle (side impact) accounted for 31 deaths, or 15.2%; Head-on for 25, or 12.3%; Rear-end for 11, or 5.4%; and Sideswipe for 10, or 4.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 127 deaths, or 62.3%. 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 115 car accident deaths, or 56.4%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 89 deaths, or 43.6%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

By land use, Urban accounted for 184 deaths, or 90.2%, and Rural accounted for 19 deaths, or 9.3%. Unknown accounted for 1 death, or 0.5%. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 7 car accident deaths, representing 3.4% of the passenger-vehicle-involved death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Massachusetts and the United States

Hampden County's car accident death rate was 8.8 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. The Massachusetts rate was 4.7, and the United States rate was 10.5. Hampden County's rate was higher than the state rate and lower than the national rate. Worcester County, the listed neighboring county, had a rate of 5.5, lower than Hampden County's 8.8.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These 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. The deaths are assigned by crash location, so the rate does not describe deaths solely among county residents. Hampden County recorded 204 deaths during the period; Worcester County recorded 238.^{[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 Hampden County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Shares of all traffic deaths were 37.9% for Speeding-related, 50.2% for Roadway departure, 24.3% for At an intersection and 21.3% for Pedestrian involved.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved represented 19.1%; Hit-and-run, 6.8%; Driver distraction reported, 11.9%; and In a work zone, 1.3%. Roadway departure had the largest share among the listed characteristics, and In a work zone had the smallest. A crash can have several characteristics, so rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These records do not establish 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 involving a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. Counts use crash county, not residence. If searching for a car accident lawyer, keep that location-based grouping in mind when reading these figures.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide period deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025 and multiply by 100,000. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator. Rates express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Worcester County, Massachusetts (2020-2024)
• Massachusetts car accident statistics (2020-2024)