Car accident statistics for Summit County, Ohio (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Summit County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 37 in 2020 to 42 in 2021, then fell to 38 in 2022, 37 in 2023 and 34 in 2024. The highest count was 42 in 2021, and the lowest was 34 in 2024. The 2024 count was 3 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The corresponding shares of all traffic deaths were 74.0% in 2020, 87.5% in 2021, 86.4% in 2022, 80.4% in 2023 and 91.9% in 2024. Thus, 2024 had the lowest car accident death count but the highest share during the period. All traffic deaths numbered 50, 48, 44, 46 and 37 in those respective years.^{[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 Summit County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 122 deaths, or 64.9% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 32 deaths, or 17.0%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 34 deaths, or 18.1%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in crashes involving at least one passenger vehicle. The grouping identifies the person's category within those selected crashes, rather than limiting the count to passenger vehicle occupants. These are counts by crash location, not by the person's residence.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) collisions accounted for 44 car accident deaths, or 23.4%; head-on collisions accounted for 18, or 9.6%; rear-end collisions for 15, or 8.0%; and sideswipe collisions for 8, or 4.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 103 deaths, or 54.8%. This row describes the first harmful event: examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. It does not mean that another vehicle had to be physically moving to qualify for a collision category. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 105 car accident deaths, or 55.9%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 83 deaths, or 44.1%. The nighttime death count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land use classification was urban for 178 deaths, or 94.7%, and rural for 7 deaths, or 3.7%. Unknown land use accounted for 3 deaths, or 1.6%. Separately, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 18 car accident deaths, representing 9.6% of the passenger-vehicle-involved death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Ohio and the United States

Summit County's car accident death rate was 7.0 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Ohio's rate was 8.9, and the United States rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than both. For the listed neighboring counties, Cuyahoga County recorded a rate of 7.5 and Stark County recorded 6.6. Summit County's rate was lower than Cuyahoga County's and higher than Stark County's.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide deaths during the period by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separate 2024 population estimate of 536,945 is not the denominator used for Summit County's 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 Summit County, of any vehicle type, with shares of all traffic deaths. Speeding-related crashes accounted for 68 deaths (30.2%); roadway departure, 113 (50.2%); at an intersection, 73 (32.4%); pedestrian involved, 33 (14.7%); motorcycle involved, 59 (26.2%); and hit-and-run, 20 (8.9%). Driver distraction reported accounted for 6 deaths (2.7%), and in a work zone accounted for 6 (2.7%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

This scope differs from the passenger-vehicle-involved car accident count. A crash can carry several characteristics, so rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The entries 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. Counts use the crash's county, not the deceased person's residence. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should keep that location grouping in mind.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates use deaths divided by summed annual Census population estimates from Vintage 2025, multiplied by 100,000. This yields average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Cuyahoga County, Ohio (2020-2024)
• Ohio car accident statistics (2020-2024)