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

Car accident deaths in City of St. Louis by year

Car accident deaths fell from 70 in 2020 to 59 in 2021, then rose to 73 in 2022. The count fell to 46 in 2023 and 40 in 2024. The highest count was in 2022, and the lowest was in 2024. Between 2020 and 2024, the annual count was 30 deaths lower.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths were 81 in 2020, 71 in 2021, 79 in 2022, 52 in 2023 and 48 in 2024. The share recorded in car accidents was 86.4%, 83.1%, 92.4%, 88.5% and 83.3%, respectively. That share was highest in 2022 and lowest in 2021. These annual figures count deaths, rather than the number of fatal 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 City of St. Louis car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 196 deaths, or 68.1% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 21 deaths, or 7.3%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 71 deaths, or 24.7%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category includes deaths in fatal crashes involving a passenger vehicle. The categories describe the people counted within that selected set of crashes. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, keep these person groupings in mind when reading the counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 80 deaths, or 27.8%; Head-on for 20, or 6.9%; Rear-end for 22, or 7.6%; and Sideswipe for 15, or 5.2%. Unknown accounted for 2 deaths, or 0.7%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 149 car accident deaths, or 51.7%. This describes the first harmful event: examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. It does not mean another vehicle had to be physically moving to qualify as a motor vehicle in transport; a vehicle stopped in traffic can qualify.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 103 car accident deaths, or 35.8%. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 184 deaths, or 63.9%. Time of day was Unknown for 1 death, or 0.3%. Nighttime had the larger recorded count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use grouping recorded 284 deaths as Urban, or 98.6%, and 1 as Rural, or 0.3%. Land use was Unknown for 3 deaths, or 1.0%. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 18, representing 6.2% of the selected deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Missouri and the United States

The City of St. Louis rate was 19.9 average annual car accident deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Missouri's rate was 13.7, and the United States rate was 10.5. The city rate was higher than both.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, St. Clair County, Illinois had the highest rate at 13.6, followed by Madison County, Illinois at 11.1 and St. Louis County, Missouri at 9.5. The city rate was higher than each of these rates. These figures use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents and 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, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accidents. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 135 deaths (40.8%); Roadway departure, 120 (36.3%); At an intersection, 134 (40.5%); Pedestrian involved, 94 (28.4%); Motorcycle involved, 33 (10.0%); Hit-and-run, 74 (22.4%); Driver distraction reported, 6 (1.8%); and In a work zone, 9 (2.7%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Speeding-related had the largest listed share, while Driver distraction reported had the smallest. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so these rows overlap and do not add to 100%. They 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 an occupant or nonoccupant death within 30 days. Counts follow crash location, not the home address of the person killed. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded.^[8][6][7]

Records for 2020 through 2023 are Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate of 280,445 is not the denominator. These average annual rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

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