Car accident statistics for Clackamas County, Oregon (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Clackamas County by year

Annual car accident deaths were unchanged at 31 in 2020 and 31 in 2021. The count rose to 39 in 2022, fell to 28 in 2023, and rose to 34 in 2024. The highest count was in 2022; the lowest was in 2023. The 2024 count was 3 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed a separate series: 37 in 2020, 36 in 2021, 45 in 2022, 30 in 2023 and 38 in 2024. The car accident share increased from 83.8% to 86.1%, then to 86.7% and 93.3%, before falling to 89.5% in 2024. The highest share occurred in 2023, the year with the lowest car accident death count.^{[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 Clackamas County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 111 deaths, or 68.1% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 24 deaths, or 14.7%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 28 deaths, or 17.2%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes, rather than restricting the count to passenger-vehicle occupants. For a reader searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is crash location, not the deceased person's residence.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Head-on collisions accounted for 42 car accident deaths, or 25.8%; Angle (side impact) accounted for 26, or 16.0%. Rear-end recorded 13 deaths, or 8.0%, and Sideswipe recorded 4, or 2.5%. Head-on had the largest death count 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 78 deaths, or 47.9%. This describes the first harmful event, which can involve a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle, fixed object or rollover instead of a collision between motor vehicles in transport. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, defined as 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 77 car accident deaths, or 47.2%. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 86 deaths, or 52.8%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count for 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use grouping recorded 77 deaths in urban locations, or 47.2%, and 86 in rural locations, or 52.8%. Rural locations had the higher count. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 11, representing 6.7% of the passenger-vehicle-involved death total.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Oregon and the United States

The Clackamas County car accident death rate was 7.7 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Oregon's rate was 11.2 and the national rate was 10.5, both higher than the county rate. Among the listed neighboring counties, Multnomah County recorded 8.2, Marion County recorded 12.1 and Washington County recorded 4.5.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Clackamas County's rate was lower than Multnomah County's and Marion County's, and higher than Washington County's. Marion County had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties; Washington County had the lowest. These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They 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 in Clackamas County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths, rather than only car accident deaths. Roadway departure recorded 107 deaths (57.5%); Speeding-related, 64 (34.4%); At an intersection, 36 (19.4%); and Pedestrian involved, 35 (18.8%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved recorded 34 deaths (18.3%); Hit-and-run, 7 (3.8%); Driver distraction reported, 15 (8.1%); and In a work zone, 6 (3.2%). Roadway departure had the largest death count of the listed characteristics, while In a work zone had the smallest. A crash can have several characteristics, so rows overlap. These records do not establish 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. County assignment follows the crash location, not where the person lived.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced with the Final File. Car accident rates divide deaths for 2020 through 2024 by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Oregon car accident statistics (2020-2024)
• Passenger vehicle
• Fatal crash (FARS definition)
• Car accident statistics for Marion County, Oregon (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Multnomah County, Oregon (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Oregon truck accident statistics (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyers.wiki)