Ohio car accident statistics (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Ohio by year

Annual car accident deaths rose from 1,025 in 2020 to 1,141 in 2021, then fell to 1,071 in 2022, 1,054 in 2023 and 971 in 2024. The highest count was in 2021, and the lowest was in 2024. The 2024 count was 54 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Ohio's share of the national car accident death total was 3.1% in 2020 and 3.1% in 2021. It was 2.9% in 2022, 3.0% in 2023 and 2.9% in 2024. Across 2020 through 2024, Ohio accounted for 3.0% of the national total of 176,219 deaths. These national shares compare deaths within the passenger-vehicle-involved crash definition used here.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised when NHTSA publishes the final file.

Who died in Ohio car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 3,946 deaths, or 75.0% of Ohio's car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 609 deaths, or 11.6%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 707 deaths, or 13.4%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification and is not a literal test of vehicle occupancy. Its classification can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Collision types and setting

Car accident deaths by manner of collision were Angle (side impact), 1,301; Head-on, 745; Rear-end, 393; Sideswipe, 180; Other, 7; and Unknown, 11. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 2,625 deaths. That row means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport, such as a rollover or striking a fixed object. Vehicles stopped in traffic can be in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime accounted for 2,589 deaths (49.2%); nighttime accounted for 2,673 (50.8%). Urban locations recorded 3,167 deaths (60.2%), rural locations recorded 2,051 (39.0%), and unknown land use accounted for 44 (0.8%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Counties with the most car accident deaths

Franklin County recorded the most car accident deaths, 501, followed by Cuyahoga County with 467 and Hamilton County with 304. Montgomery County recorded 287 deaths and Lucas County recorded 206. The listed counts continue with Summit County, 188; Butler County, 137; Stark County, 124; Lorain County, 109; Trumbull County, 93; Mahoning County, 89; Clark County, 87; Clermont County, 84; Licking County, 80; and Wood County, 77.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These are deaths grouped by crash county during 2020 through 2024. Rates are a separate measure: Clark County had the highest average annual deaths per 100,000 residents among the listed counties, at 12.8. Stark County had the lowest rate among the listed counties, at 6.6. Franklin County's rate was 7.5.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Up to 15 counties with the most deaths in the period, largest first. Rates for counties with few deaths change sharply with each death.

How Ohio compares with the national rate

Ohio's car accident death rate was 8.9, compared with the national rate of 10.5, measured as average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Ohio's rate was lower than the national rate. The corresponding death counts were 5,262 for Ohio and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The calculation divides deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates for the period and multiplies by 100,000. It does not adjust for miles driven or visitors. Ohio's separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate of 11,860,621 is not the rate's denominator. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, these counts remain grouped by crash location.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

About these figures

NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes is FARS. For inclusion, a crash must involve a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public, with an occupant or nonoccupant dying within 30 days. The census excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. Counts for states and counties are based on where the crash occurred, not where the deceased person resided.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File may change when replaced by the Final File. Rates use deaths divided by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, multiplied by 100,000. They measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• FARS Annual Report File and Final File
• Car accident statistics for Franklin County, Ohio (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Cuyahoga County, Ohio (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Hamilton County, Ohio (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Montgomery County, Ohio (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Lucas County, Ohio (2020-2024)