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Sangamon County

Residents 194,345Deaths 2024 21Deaths 2015–2024 212Latest data year 2024

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.

NHTSA's FARS file lists 212 people killed in 203 fatal crashes in Sangamon County, Illinois, between 2015 and 2024, 21 of them in 2024.

With 194,345 residents, that is 10.8 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 20% higher than the Illinois rate of 9.0 and close to the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll was about level between 2005–2014 (211) and 2015–2024 (212).

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 17.0% against 13.3% for Illinois.

34% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Monday was the most common day (18%).

21deaths in 202420 fatal crashes
123deaths, 2020–2024212 over ten years
10.8per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 10.8
+20%vs Illinois ratestate 9.0 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

02142197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 26 deaths1976: 36 deaths1977: 31 deaths1978: 29 deaths1979: 42 deaths1980: 33 deaths1981: 27 deaths1982: 20 deaths1983: 13 deaths1984: 13 deaths1985: 22 deaths1986: 31 deaths1987: 20 deaths1988: 30 deaths1989: 25 deaths1990: 23 deaths1991: 28 deaths1992: 15 deaths1993: 18 deaths1994: 23 deaths1995: 33 deaths1996: 23 deaths1997: 29 deaths1998: 22 deaths1999: 21 deaths2000: 32 deaths2001: 34 deaths2002: 27 deaths2003: 18 deaths2004: 19 deaths2005: 24 deaths2006: 16 deaths2007: 27 deaths2008: 17 deaths2009: 21 deaths2010: 22 deaths2011: 22 deaths2012: 22 deaths2013: 20 deaths2014: 20 deaths2015: 13 deaths2016: 20 deaths2017: 18 deaths2018: 23 deaths2019: 15 deaths2020: 18 deaths2021: 24 deaths2022: 32 deaths2023: 28 deaths2024: 21 deaths
People killed in crashes in Sangamon County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 21 deaths.

Ten-year total up 0% (211 in 2005–2014, 212 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.

Compared with Illinois and the nation

MeasureSangamonIllinoisUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202410.89.011.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202410.89.311.5
Deaths, 2015–202421211,423389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–202420310,472358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.01.11.1
Change vs previous ten years0%+8%+7%
Crashes on rural roads32%34%43%

Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 194,345 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking26.1%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver30%
Pedestriansshare of people killed8.5%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed17%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used44.3%
In darknesscrashes after dark38.4%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads32.2%

tick marks the Illinois share. Bars are shares of fatal crashes (alcohol, speeding, darkness, rural) or of people killed (pedestrians, motorcyclists, unrestrained occupants) over the ten-year window.

"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.

Time of day and day of week

12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Fatal crashes in Sangamon County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 202 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Monday18%
Saturday18%
Sunday15%
Friday13%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday13%
Thursday11%

Light condition

Daylight58%
Dark, not lighted24%
Dark, lighted14%
Dusk2%
Dawn1%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Other principal arterial28%
Minor arterial22%
Major collector21%
Interstate18%
Local9%
Minor collector1%
Other freeways and expressways0%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the Illinois share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear87%
Rain6%
Cloudy2%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain2%
Fog, smog or smoke1%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Sangamon

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1Interstate 55Interstate2725529030%52%
2State Route 29State highway17545919%26%
3Interstate 72Interstate12293431%31%
4State Route 4State highway10435030%37%

Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.

By year, 2015–2024

YearFatal crashesDeathsDrinking-driver crashesPer 100,000
20242021510.8IL 2024
20232828714.4IL 2023
202230321116.5IL 2022
202123241012.3IL 2021
2020181839.3IL 2020
201915151–27.7IL 2019
20182023411.8IL 2018
2017181849.3IL 2017
20161920510.3IL 2016
201512131–26.7IL 2015

Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule). Per-100,000 uses the 2024 population for every year in this table; the ten-year rate above uses each year's estimate.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Sangamon County, Illinois?

21 people died in 20 fatal crashes in 2024; 123 over 2020–2024 and 212 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Sangamon compare with Illinois?

10.8 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 9.0 for Illinois and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Sangamon involved alcohol?

26.1% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 27.2% in Illinois. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 17.0%.

Which roads in Sangamon see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, Interstate 55 (27 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), State Route 29 (17 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and Interstate 72 (12 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Sangamon?

Most often between noon to 6pm (34% of crashes) and on Mondays (18%); 38.4% happened after dark.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.