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

Car accident deaths in York County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 32 in 2020 to 38 in 2021, then fell to 26 in 2022. The count rose to 27 in 2023 and 29 in 2024. The highest count was 38 in 2021; the lowest was 26 in 2022. The 2024 count was 3 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same sequence of increases and decreases: 36 in 2020, 43 in 2021, 28 in 2022, 30 in 2023 and 34 in 2024. The car accident share was 88.9%, 88.4%, 92.9%, 90.0% and 85.3%, respectively. Although 2022 had the lowest car accident death count, it had the highest share of all traffic deaths.^{[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 York County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 108 deaths, or 71.1% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 21 deaths, or 13.8%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 23 deaths, or 15.1%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify the people who died in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The nonoccupant label follows FARS person types rather than a literal test of being outside a vehicle. Its classification can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Head-on collisions accounted for 37 deaths, or 24.3%; Angle (side impact) accounted for 29, or 19.1%. Rear-end collisions recorded 9 deaths, or 5.9%, and Sideswipe recorded 1, or 0.7%. These are car accident death counts 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 76 deaths, or 50.0%. 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 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 (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 75 car accident deaths, or 49.3%, from 2020 through 2024. Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 77 deaths, or 50.7%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

By land use, Urban accounted for 94 deaths, or 61.8%, while Rural accounted for 58 deaths, or 38.2%. These classifications describe where the crashes happened. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 13 car accident deaths, or 8.6%. That count concerns everyone killed in those selected crashes, not solely people in the large trucks.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

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

York County's car accident death rate was 10.4 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 lower than both. The corresponding death counts were 152 for York County, 4,883 for South Carolina and 176,219 nationally.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Gaston County, North Carolina, had a rate of 10.1, and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, had a rate of 8.5. York County's rate was higher than each. These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates and express the result per 100,000 residents per year. 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 York County, of any vehicle type, not just car accident deaths. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 43.9%; Roadway departure, 58.5%; At an intersection, 17.0%; Pedestrian involved, 14.6%; Motorcycle involved, 18.1%; Hit-and-run, 3.5%; Driver distraction reported, 13.5%; and In a work zone, 0.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Roadway departure had the largest listed share, with 100 deaths. In a work zone recorded 0 deaths. A crash can carry several characteristics, so these rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The entries record characteristics rather than 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. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. Counts follow crash location, not residence. Whether reading for reference or preparing to speak with a car accident lawyer, keep that geographic grouping in mind.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, and multiply by 100,000. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator. The result is average annual deaths per 100,000 residents, without adjustment for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

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