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

Car accident deaths in Marion County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 32 in 2020 to 64 in 2021, then fell to 47 in 2022 and 34 in 2023. The count remained unchanged at 34 in 2024. The highest count was 64 in 2021, and the lowest was 32 in 2020. The 2024 count was 2 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 36 in 2020, 68 in 2021, 50 in 2022, 48 in 2023 and 39 in 2024. Car accident deaths represented 88.9%, 94.1%, 94.0%, 70.8% and 87.2% of those respective annual totals. Although the car accident death count was unchanged from 2023 to 2024, its share of all traffic deaths rose.^{[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 Marion County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 126 deaths, or 59.7% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 24 deaths, or 11.4%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 61 deaths, or 28.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle, even when the person was classified in another category. The nonoccupant label follows FARS person types and can include occupants of parked motor vehicles; it is not a literal test of position outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) recorded 39 deaths (18.5%), Head-on 37 (17.5%), Rear-end 8 (3.8%) and Sideswipe 4 (1.9%). Unknown recorded 1 death (0.5%). These car accident classifications describe the first harmful event.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 122 deaths (57.8%). This means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A motor vehicle stopped in traffic can still be in transport; the classification does not depend on whether another vehicle was physically moving.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 98 car accident deaths (46.4%), while Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 110 (52.1%). The time was Unknown for 3 deaths (1.4%). Nighttime had the larger recorded death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification assigned 128 deaths (60.7%) to Urban and 83 (39.3%) to Rural. These are classifications of crash location, not the homes of the people who died. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 16 car accident deaths, representing 7.6% of the county's car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Oregon and the United States

Marion County's car accident death rate was 12.1 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. The Oregon rate was 11.2, and the United States rate was 10.5. Marion County's rate was higher than each. The corresponding death counts were 211 for Marion County, 2,381 for Oregon and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Clackamas County recorded 163 deaths and a rate of 7.7; Linn County recorded 112 deaths and a rate of 17.1. Marion County's rate was higher than Clackamas County's and lower than Linn County's. These rates use the sum of annual population estimates 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 in Marion County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths, rather than only car accident deaths. Speeding-related accounted for 26.1%; Roadway departure, 48.5%; At an intersection, 24.9%; and Pedestrian involved, 22.4%. Motorcycle involved accounted for 14.1%; Hit-and-run, 9.1%; Driver distraction reported, 7.9%; and In a work zone, 0.8%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash may carry several characteristics, so these rows overlap and do not add to 100%. They describe recorded characteristics, not findings of fault or cause. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, the distinction to retain here is the scope of these counts.^{[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 NHTSA's 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. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. County assignment follows crash location, not residence.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File figures may change when replaced by the Final File. 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 separate July 1, 2024 population estimate of 353,218 is not the rate denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Oregon car accident statistics (2020-2024)