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

Car accident deaths in Orangeburg County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 34 in 2020 to 45 in 2021, then fell to 44 in 2022. The count fell again to 34 in 2023 before rising to 42 in 2024. The highest count was 45 in 2021; the lowest was 34, recorded in both 2020 and 2023. The 2024 count was 8 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The yearly shares of all traffic deaths were 91.9% in 2020, 97.8% in 2021, 93.6% in 2022, 91.9% in 2023 and 87.5% in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 37, 46, 47, 37 and 48 in those respective years. Although car accident deaths rose from 2023 to 2024, their share of all traffic deaths fell.^{[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 Orangeburg County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 168 deaths, or 84.4% of car accident deaths in Orangeburg County from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 9 deaths, or 4.5%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 22 deaths, or 11.1%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes, with classification based on FARS person types and vehicle body categories. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, these counts should be read by crash location and the stated person categories.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

By manner of collision, Angle (side impact) accounted for 34 deaths (17.1%), Head-on for 31 (15.6%), Rear-end for 12 (6.0%) and Sideswipe for 3 (1.5%). Other accounted for 2 deaths (1.0%). These are deaths classified by the crash's first harmful event.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 117 car accident deaths (58.8%). That label 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 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 114 car accident deaths (57.3%) in Orangeburg County during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 85 deaths (42.7%). The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 168 deaths (84.4%) as rural and 31 deaths (15.6%) as urban. Separately, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 25 car accident deaths, or 12.6%. That figure counts deaths in passenger-vehicle-involved crashes with a large truck, rather than a count of trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

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

Orangeburg County's car accident death rate was 47.8 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. South Carolina's rate was 18.4, and the United States rate was 10.5. The county rate was higher than both.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Berkeley County had a rate of 17.8, Lexington County 14.2, Aiken County 15.1 and Dorchester County 13.0. Orangeburg County's rate was higher than each of those rates. Berkeley County had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties, and Dorchester County had the lowest. All these rates divide deaths by summed annual population estimates to express an average annual rate. 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 Orangeburg County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident crashes. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 103 deaths (47.9%); Roadway departure, 129 (60.0%); At an intersection, 42 (19.5%); Pedestrian involved, 22 (10.2%); Motorcycle involved, 15 (7.0%); Hit-and-run, 7 (3.3%); Driver distraction reported, 11 (5.1%); and In a work zone, 2 (0.9%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several characteristics, so these rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The entries describe recorded characteristics, not findings of fault or cause. Each listed count represents deaths associated with that characteristic, not the number of fatal crashes.^{[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 on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. County counts use crash location, not the deceased person's residence. Data for 2020 through 2023 are Final Files; the 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File.^[8][6][7]

Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates for those years, using Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. This gives average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. The separate 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 Berkeley County, South Carolina (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Lexington County, South Carolina (2020-2024)
• South Carolina car accident statistics (2020-2024)