Car accident statistics for Greene County, Missouri (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Greene County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 31 in 2020 to 46 in 2021, then fell to 40 in 2022. The count rose to 44 in 2023 before falling to 34 in 2024. The highest count was 46 in 2021, and the lowest was 31 in 2020. The 2024 count was 3 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The annual share of all traffic deaths attributed to these crashes was 77.5% in 2020, 93.9% in 2021, 87.0% in 2022, 81.5% in 2023 and 89.5% in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 40, 49, 46, 54 and 38 in those respective years. The highest year for all traffic deaths was 2023.^{[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 Greene County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 128 deaths, or 65.6% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 35 deaths, or 17.9%. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 32 deaths, or 16.4%, the smallest category.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle, rather than limiting the count to deaths in passenger vehicles. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification; it is not a literal test of a person's position relative to a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 56 car accident deaths, or 28.7%. Head-on recorded 28 deaths, or 14.4%; Rear-end recorded 16, or 8.2%; and Sideswipe recorded 3, or 1.5%. Angle (side impact) was the largest category among collisions with another motor vehicle in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 92 deaths, or 47.2%. Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. This row includes events such as striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. It does not mean another vehicle had to be physically moving: a vehicle stopped in traffic can be a motor vehicle in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 99 car accident deaths, or 50.8%, during 2020 through 2024. Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 96 deaths, or 49.2%. The daytime count was higher than the nighttime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

By land use, Urban recorded 142 deaths, or 72.8%, while Rural recorded 51 deaths, or 26.2%. Unknown accounted for 2 deaths, or 1.0%. These classifications describe the crash location. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 23 car accident deaths, representing 11.8% of the county's car accident deaths during the period.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Missouri and the United States

Greene County's car accident death rate was 12.9 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Missouri's rate was 13.7, and the United States rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than the state rate and higher than the national rate. The corresponding death counts were 195 for Greene County, 4,226 for Missouri and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide deaths 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 separately displayed 2024 population estimate of 307,174 is not the denominator used to calculate its 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 Greene County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths. Speeding-related recorded 77 deaths, or 33.9%; Roadway departure, 92 deaths, or 40.5%; and At an intersection, 90 deaths, or 39.6%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Pedestrian involved recorded 33 deaths, or 14.5%; Motorcycle involved, 60 deaths, or 26.4%; Hit-and-run, 9 deaths, or 4.0%; Driver distraction reported, 19 deaths, or 8.4%; and In a work zone, 4 deaths, or 1.8%. A crash can have several characteristics, so rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are 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 death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. Whether reading with a car accident lawyer in mind or reviewing the figures alone, keep the grouping clear: deaths are assigned to the county where the crash happened, not where the person 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 summed annual Census population estimates from Vintage 2025 for 2020 through 2024, rather than the separate July 1, 2024 estimate, to express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Missouri car accident statistics (2020-2024)