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Fayette County

Residents 23,335Deaths 2024 1–2Deaths 2015–2024 37Latest 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 37 people killed in 35 fatal crashes in Fayette County, Indiana, between 2015 and 2024, fewer than three of them in 2024.

With 23,335 residents, that is 15.9 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 22% higher than the Indiana rate of 13.0 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 48% from 25 in 2005–2014 to 37 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 16.2% against 14.9% for Indiana.

34% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Friday was the most common day (23%).

1–2deaths in 20241–2 fatal crashes
16deaths, 2020–202437 over ten years
15.9per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 8.6
+22%vs Indiana ratestate 13.0 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

048197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 4 deaths1976: 1–2 deaths1977: 4 deaths1978: 6 deaths1979: 4 deaths1980: 1–2 deaths1981: 1–2 deaths1982: 5 deaths1983: 5 deaths1984: 4 deaths1985: 5 deaths1986: 1–2 deaths1987: 1–2 deaths1988: 3 deaths1989: 5 deaths1990: 1–2 deaths1991: 6 deaths1992: 5 deaths1993: 0 deaths1994: 5 deaths1995: 1–2 deaths1996: 3 deaths1997: 5 deaths1998: 1–2 deaths1999: 5 deaths2000: 1–2 deaths2001: 1–2 deaths2002: 3 deaths2003: 1–2 deaths2004: 5 deaths2005: 1–2 deaths2006: 3 deaths2007: 1–2 deaths2008: 4 deaths2009: 0 deaths2010: 4 deaths2011: 4 deaths2012: 1–2 deaths2013: 1–2 deaths2014: 3 deaths2015: 3 deaths2016: 3 deaths2017: 4 deaths2018: 5 deaths2019: 6 deaths2020: 1–2 deaths2021: 8 deaths2022: 3 deaths2023: 1–2 deaths2024: 1–2 deaths
People killed in crashes in Fayette County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 1–2 deaths.

Ten-year total up 48% (25 in 2005–2014, 37 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 Indiana and the nation

MeasureFayetteIndianaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202415.913.011.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 20248.612.011.5
Deaths, 2015–2024378,773389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–2024358,116358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+48%+9%+7%
Crashes on rural roads80%58%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 23,335 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking11.4%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver22.9%
Pedestriansshare of people killed10.8%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed16.2%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used71.4%
In darknesscrashes after dark40%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads80%

tick marks the Indiana 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 Fayette County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 35 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Friday23%
Saturday23%
Tuesday14%
Sunday11%
Monday11%
Wednesday9%
Thursday9%

Light condition

Daylight51%
Dark, not lighted29%
Dark, lighted11%
Dusk6%
Dawn3%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Other principal arterial34%
Minor arterial23%
Local23%
Major collector14%
Minor collector6%
Interstate0%
Other freeways and expressways0%

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

Weather

Clear77%
Cloudy20%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain3%
Rain0%
Fog, smog or smoke0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Fayette

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1State Route 1State highway6343815%12%

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
20241–21–20—IN 2024
20231–21–21–2—IN 2023
202233012.9IN 2022
2021781–234.3IN 2021
20201–21–20—IN 2020
201966025.7IN 2019
201855021.4IN 2018
2017441–217.1IN 2017
2016331–212.9IN 2016
20151–23012.9IN 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 Fayette County, Indiana?

fewer than three people died in fewer than three fatal crashes in 2024; 16 over 2020–2024 and 37 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Fayette compare with Indiana?

15.9 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 13.0 for Indiana and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Fayette involved alcohol?

11.4% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 19.6% in Indiana. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 16.2%.

Which roads in Fayette see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, State Route 1 (6 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Fayette?

Most often between noon to 6pm (34% of crashes) and on Fridays (23%); 40.0% 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.