Car accident statistics for Kent County, Michigan (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Kent County by year

Annual car accident deaths rose from 53 in 2020 to 59 in 2021, then fell to 52 in 2022. The count rose to 61 in 2023 before falling to 60 in 2024. The highest count was in 2023, and the lowest was in 2022. The 2024 count was 7 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The share of all traffic deaths attributed to these crashes was 96.4% in 2020, 89.4% in 2021, 94.5% in 2022, 95.3% in 2023 and 95.2% in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 55, 66, 55, 64 and 63 in those respective years. These annual figures distinguish deaths in passenger-vehicle-involved crashes from traffic deaths involving any vehicle type.^{[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 Kent County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 186 deaths, or 65.3% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 33 deaths, or 11.6%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 66 deaths, or 23.2%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows FARS classifications and is not a literal test of location outside a vehicle; it can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.^{[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 80 deaths (28.1%), Head-on for 44 (15.4%), Rear-end for 14 (4.9%) and Sideswipe for 12 (4.2%). Unknown accounted for 1 death (0.4%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 134 deaths (47.0%). 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 physical movement.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 148 car accident deaths (51.9%) during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 137 deaths (48.1%). The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 228 deaths (80.0%) as Urban and 55 (19.3%) as Rural. Unknown land use accounted for 2 deaths (0.7%). Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 21, representing 7.4% of the deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Michigan and the United States

Kent County's car accident death rate was 8.6 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Michigan's rate was 9.7, and the national rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than both. The corresponding death counts were 285 for Kent County, 4,897 for Michigan and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide deaths during the period by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The county's 2024 population estimate of 670,412 is shown separately; that single year's estimate is not the denominator used for the average annual rate.^{[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 Kent County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 66 deaths (21.8%); Roadway departure, 118 (38.9%); At an intersection, 106 (35.0%); Pedestrian involved, 61 (20.1%); Motorcycle involved, 40 (13.2%); Hit-and-run, 18 (5.9%); Driver distraction reported, 16 (5.3%); and In a work zone, 3 (1.0%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

These figures have a different scope from the car accident death counts. A crash can carry several characteristics, so rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The recorded characteristics 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. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, these counts group deaths by crash county, not where those killed lived.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates use the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, for 2020 through 2024, with deaths divided by that sum and multiplied by 100,000. The separately shown July 1, 2024 estimate is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Michigan car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for Kent County, Michigan (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)