Car accident statistics for Horry County, South Carolina (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Horry County by year

Annual car accident deaths rose from 60 in 2020 to 70 in 2021, then fell to 67 in 2022, 58 in 2023 and 51 in 2024. The highest count was in 2021, and the lowest was in 2024. The 2024 count was 9 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 63 in 2020, 80 in 2021, 80 in 2022, 66 in 2023 and 58 in 2024. Car accident deaths accounted for 95.2% of traffic deaths in 2020, 87.5% in 2021, 83.8% in 2022, 87.9% in 2023 and 87.9% in 2024. That share was highest in 2020 and lowest in 2022.^{[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 Horry County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 171 deaths, or 55.9% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 49 deaths, or 16.0%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 86 deaths, or 28.1%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category includes deaths in fatal crashes involving a passenger vehicle. The categories describe the people counted, while the county assignment identifies where the crash happened. The nonoccupant label follows FARS person types and is not a literal test of a person's position relative to a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) collisions accounted for 68 deaths, or 22.2%; head-on collisions for 44, or 14.4%; rear-end collisions for 24, or 7.8%; and sideswipe collisions for 3, or 1.0%. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 167 deaths, or 54.6%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Manner of collision identifies the first harmful event. The latter row includes events such as striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover, rather than 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

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 192 car accident deaths, or 62.7%, from 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 114 deaths, or 37.3%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 175 deaths, or 57.2%, while the rural classification recorded 131 deaths, or 42.8%. These classifications refer to crash locations. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 20 car accident deaths, or 6.5%. Those deaths remain part of the passenger-vehicle-involved crash count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with South Carolina and the United States

Horry County's car accident death rate was 16.0 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. South Carolina's rate was 18.4, and the national rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than the state rate and higher than the national rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Robeson County, North Carolina, had a rate of 44.4, and Brunswick County, North Carolina, had a rate of 13.5. Horry County's rate was lower than Robeson's and higher than Brunswick's. 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 Horry County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths, rather than only car accident deaths. Speeding-related crashes accounted for 116 deaths (33.4%); roadway departure, 132 (38.0%); at an intersection, 96 (27.7%); pedestrian involved, 86 (24.8%); and motorcycle involved, 78 (22.5%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Hit-and-run accounted for 13 deaths (3.7%); driver distraction reported, 4 (1.2%); and in a work zone, 3 (0.9%). A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so these rows overlap and cannot be added into a total. The characteristics are 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 involving a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. Counts follow crash location, not residence. When reading with a car accident lawyer in mind, keep that geographic grouping in view.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; the 2024 Annual Report File can be revised. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025 and multiply by 100,000 for average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate is not the denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• South Carolina car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for Horry County, South Carolina (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)