Car accident statistics for Utah County, Utah (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Utah County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 31 in 2020 to 35 in 2021, then fell to 32 in 2022 and 30 in 2023. The count rose to 33 in 2024. The highest count was 35 in 2021, and the lowest was 30 in 2023. The 2024 count was 2 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed a different annual sequence: 33 in 2020, 38 in 2021, 42 in 2022, 31 in 2023 and 33 in 2024. Car accident deaths represented 93.9%, 92.1%, 76.2%, 96.8% and 100.0% of those respective annual totals. The highest share occurred in 2024, while the lowest share occurred 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 Utah County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 107 deaths, or 66.5% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 25 deaths, or 15.5%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 29 deaths, or 18.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories classify the people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification rather than a literal test of position outside a vehicle. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, keep these person groupings in mind when reading the counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 52 deaths, or 32.3%; Head-on for 23, or 14.3%; Rear-end for 10, or 6.2%; and Sideswipe for 10, or 6.2%. Other accounted for 2 deaths, or 1.2%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport was the largest row, with 64 deaths, or 39.8%. Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. This 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

Daytime, defined as 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 95 car accident deaths, or 59.0%, during 2020 through 2024. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 66 deaths, or 41.0%. The daytime count was higher than the nighttime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 123 deaths, or 76.4%, while the rural classification recorded 38 deaths, or 23.6%. These classifications describe crash locations. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 22 car accident deaths, or 13.7%. That figure counts deaths in passenger-vehicle-involved crashes that also involved a large truck.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Utah and the United States

Utah County's car accident death rate was 4.6 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Utah's rate was 7.3, and the national rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than both. Neighboring Salt Lake County recorded a rate of 5.6, also higher than Utah County's rate. The corresponding death counts were 161 for Utah County, 1,245 for Utah, 176,219 for the United States and 333 for Salt Lake County.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Each rate divides deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates for the period and multiplies by 100,000. These are average annual deaths per 100,000 residents, not rates adjusted for miles driven or visitors. Deaths remain assigned 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 Utah County, of any vehicle type. Counts are deaths; percentages are shares of all traffic deaths. Speeding-related crashes accounted for 63 deaths (35.6%); roadway departure, 88 (49.7%); at an intersection, 66 (37.3%); pedestrian involved, 24 (13.6%); motorcycle involved, 31 (17.5%); hit-and-run, 4 (2.3%); driver distraction reported, 7 (4.0%); and in a work zone, 2 (1.1%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

These figures use a broader scope than the car accident counts. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and their percentages do not form 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 NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. County assignment follows crash location, not the deceased person's residence.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, and multiply by 100,000. They express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate of 745,668 is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Salt Lake County, Utah (2020-2024)
• Utah car accident statistics (2020-2024)