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

Car accident deaths in Richland County by year

The yearly car accident death count rose from 50 in 2020 to 64 in 2021, then fell to 59 in 2022 and 49 in 2023. It rose to 57 in 2024. The highest count was 64 in 2021, and the lowest was 49 in 2023. The 2024 count was 7 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 55 in 2020, 74 in 2021, 67 in 2022, 60 in 2023 and 63 in 2024. Car accident deaths represented 90.9%, 86.5%, 88.1%, 81.7% and 90.5% of those respective annual totals. That share was highest in 2020 and lowest in 2023, while the death count itself was highest in 2021.^{[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 Richland County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 176 deaths and 63.1% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 38 deaths and 13.6%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 65 deaths and 23.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify the people who died in the selected passenger vehicle crashes. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification and is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle. The grouping can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

By manner of collision, Angle (side impact) accounted for 54 deaths, or 19.4%; Head-on for 32, or 11.5%; Rear-end for 28, or 10.0%; and Sideswipe for 7, or 2.5%. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 158 deaths, or 56.6%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

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

Daytime, defined as 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 103 car accident deaths, or 36.9%, during 2020 through 2024. Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 176 deaths, or 63.1%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 214 deaths and 76.7%, while the rural classification recorded 65 deaths and 23.3%. These are classifications of crash locations. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 25, representing 9.0% of the deaths in the selected passenger vehicle crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

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

Richland County's car accident death rate was 13.2 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, Lexington County had a rate of 14.2 and Sumter County had a rate of 24.1. Richland County's rate was lower than each. Sumter County had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties. These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors, and the deaths are counted 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 Richland County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident crashes. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related recorded 110 deaths, 34.5%; Roadway departure 139, 43.6%; At an intersection 73, 22.9%; Pedestrian involved 80, 25.1%; and Motorcycle involved 56, 17.6%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Hit-and-run recorded 28 deaths, 8.8%; Driver distraction reported 3, 0.9%; and In a work zone 7, 2.2%. Roadway departure had the largest share of the listed characteristics. Rows overlap, since a crash can carry several characteristics, and do not add to 100%. 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 involving a motor vehicle 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. If you are searching for a car accident lawyer, keep that location grouping in mind when reading the counts.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates use summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, and multiply deaths divided by that sum by 100,000. 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 Lexington County, South Carolina (2020-2024)
• South Carolina car accident statistics (2020-2024)