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

Car accident deaths in Multnomah County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 53 in 2020 to 63 in 2021, then to 70 in 2022 and 78 in 2023. The count fell to 66 in 2024. Across the reporting period, 2023 had the highest count and 2020 had the lowest. The 2024 count was 13 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 83 in 2020, 80 in 2021, 88 in 2022, 90 in 2023 and 78 in 2024. The corresponding shares attributed to car accidents were 63.9%, 78.8%, 79.5%, 86.7% and 84.6%. Both the car accident death count and its share of all traffic deaths reached their highest values in 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 Multnomah County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 165 deaths, or 50.0% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 48 deaths, or 14.5%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 117 deaths, or 35.5%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories describe the people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. They do not restrict the count to people occupying passenger vehicles. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, keep this grouping in mind when reading the death counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) accounted for 71 deaths (21.5%); Head-on, 35 (10.6%); Rear-end, 23 (7.0%); and Sideswipe, 8 (2.4%). Other and Unknown each recorded 1 death (0.3%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 191 car accident deaths (57.9%). 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 vehicle stopped in traffic can be in transport; physical movement is not the defining test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 209 car accident deaths, or 63.3%, from 2020 through 2024. Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 118 deaths, or 35.8%. Time of day was Unknown for 3 deaths, or 0.9%. Nighttime had the higher death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification was Urban for 317 deaths (96.1%) and Rural for 13 deaths (3.9%). These classifications refer to crash locations. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 22, representing 6.7% of the county's car accident deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Oregon and the United States

Multnomah County's car accident death rate was 8.2 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. That rate was lower than Oregon's 11.2 and the national rate of 10.5. The county's rate was higher than each of the listed neighboring county rates: Clark County, Washington, at 6.5; Clackamas County, Oregon, at 7.7; and Washington County, Oregon, at 4.5.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Clackamas County had the highest rate and 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, and the deaths are assigned by crash location.^{[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 Multnomah County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths, rather than only car accident deaths. Speeding-related accounted for 36.3%; Roadway departure, 33.4%; At an intersection, 32.0%; and Pedestrian involved, 35.1%. Motorcycle involved accounted for 17.2%; Hit-and-run, 15.8%; Driver distraction reported, 2.9%; and In a work zone, 1.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Speeding-related had the largest share among the listed characteristics, while In a work zone had the smallest. A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and cannot be added into a total. 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. County counts follow crash location, not residence. Data for 2020 through 2023 are Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File, subject to revision.^[8][6][7]

Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000 to give average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Clark County, Washington (2020-2024)
• Oregon car accident statistics (2020-2024)