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

Car accident deaths in Spartanburg County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 56 in 2020 to 75 in 2021, then fell to 56 in 2022. The count returned to 75 in 2023 before falling to 59 in 2024. The highest count was shared by 2021 and 2023, while 2020 and 2022 shared the lowest count. The 2024 count was 3 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 62 in 2020, 84 in 2021, 59 in 2022, 84 in 2023 and 66 in 2024. The corresponding shares attributed to car accidents were 90.3%, 89.3%, 94.9%, 89.3% and 89.4%. The highest share occurred in 2022, when the car accident death count was tied for the lowest.^{[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 Spartanburg County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 225 deaths, or 70.1% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 44 deaths, or 13.7%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 52 deaths, or 16.2%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The nonoccupant label follows FARS person types and is not a literal test of position outside a vehicle. Its 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 79 deaths (24.6%), Head-on for 46 (14.3%), Rear-end for 34 (10.6%), Sideswipe for 12 (3.7%) and Other for 1 (0.3%). Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 149 deaths (46.4%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These car accident categories describe 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, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 184 car accident deaths, or 57.3%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 137 deaths, or 42.7%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 229 deaths (71.3%), while the rural classification recorded 92 (28.7%). These are classifications of crash locations, not the places where the people lived. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 30 car accident deaths, representing 9.3% of the selected deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

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

Spartanburg County's car accident death rate was 18.4 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. South Carolina's rate was also 18.4, and the national rate was 10.5. The county rate matched the state rate and was higher than the national rate. Greenville County, South Carolina, the listed neighboring county, had a rate of 14.8, lower than Spartanburg County's.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide deaths during the reporting period by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents and do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The county's separately displayed 2024 population estimate of 369,934 is not the denominator used for its rate.^{[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 Spartanburg County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 39.2%; Roadway departure, 46.2%; At an intersection, 24.8%; Pedestrian involved, 14.9%; Motorcycle involved, 18.0%; Hit-and-run, 4.2%; Driver distraction reported, 0.3%; and In a work zone, 0.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Roadway departure had the largest listed share, with 164 deaths. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These classifications record crash characteristics; they 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 counts fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes on trafficways customarily open to the public when an occupant or nonoccupant dies within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. County assignment follows crash location, not residence. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should keep that location-based grouping in mind when reading these counts.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File and may change with its replacement by the Final File. Rates divide the period's deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The July 1, 2024 estimate is separate from that denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Greenville County, South Carolina (2020-2024)
• South Carolina car accident statistics (2020-2024)