Fatal Roads

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Newton County

Residents 14,131Deaths 2024 6Deaths 2015–2024 53Latest 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.

In 2024, the latest year in FARS, Newton County (Indiana) had 5 fatal crashes with 6 deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 49 fatal crashes and 53 deaths.

With 14,131 residents, that is 38.0 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, about 2.9 times the Indiana rate of 13.0 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 8% from 49 in 2005–2014 to 53 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 18.9% against 14.9% for Indiana.

29% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Sunday was the most common day (18%).

6deaths in 20245 fatal crashes
23deaths, 2020–202453 over ten years
38.0per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 42.5
+192%vs Indiana ratestate 13.0 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0510197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 6 deaths1976: 7 deaths1977: 7 deaths1978: 10 deaths1979: 6 deaths1980: 4 deaths1981: 8 deaths1982: 9 deaths1983: 1–2 deaths1984: 7 deaths1985: 1–2 deaths1986: 3 deaths1987: 3 deaths1988: 9 deaths1989: 7 deaths1990: 8 deaths1991: 6 deaths1992: 4 deaths1993: 10 deaths1994: 5 deaths1995: 5 deaths1996: 3 deaths1997: 3 deaths1998: 8 deaths1999: 6 deaths2000: 7 deaths2001: 4 deaths2002: 8 deaths2003: 5 deaths2004: 7 deaths2005: 8 deaths2006: 8 deaths2007: 5 deaths2008: 8 deaths2009: 3 deaths2010: 1–2 deaths2011: 5 deaths2012: 4 deaths2013: 3 deaths2014: 3 deaths2015: 4 deaths2016: 3 deaths2017: 8 deaths2018: 9 deaths2019: 6 deaths2020: 4 deaths2021: 4 deaths2022: 4 deaths2023: 5 deaths2024: 6 deaths
People killed in crashes in Newton County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 6 deaths.

Ten-year total up 8% (49 in 2005–2014, 53 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

MeasureNewtonIndianaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202438.013.011.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202442.512.011.5
Deaths, 2015–2024538,773389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–2024498,116358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+8%+9%+7%
Crashes on rural roads96%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 14,131 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking20.4%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver20.4%
Pedestriansshare of people killed3.8%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed18.9%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used41.9%
In darknesscrashes after dark40.8%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads95.9%

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 Newton County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 49 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Sunday18%
Monday18%
Saturday16%
Wednesday14%
Tuesday12%
Thursday10%
Friday10%

Light condition

Daylight53%
Dark, not lighted41%
Dusk4%
Dawn2%
Dark, lighted0%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Local29%
Other principal arterial24%
Minor arterial18%
Major collector14%
Interstate6%
Minor collector6%
Other freeways and expressways2%

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

Clear84%
Cloudy6%
Rain4%
Fog, smog or smoke4%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain2%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Newton

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1US Route 41US highway5889714%23%
2US Route 24US highway3404613%15%
3US Route 41NUS highway3202240%15%
4Interstate 65Interstate216918813%41%
5Interstate 65SInterstate1252712%36%

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
2024561–242.5IN 2024
202355035.4IN 2023
2022441–228.3IN 2022
202144028.3IN 2021
2020441–228.3IN 2020
2019661–242.5IN 2019
2018991–263.7IN 2018
2017681–256.6IN 2017
201633021.2IN 2016
2015341–228.3IN 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 Newton County, Indiana?

6 people died in 5 fatal crashes in 2024; 23 over 2020–2024 and 53 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Newton compare with Indiana?

38.0 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 Newton involved alcohol?

20.4% 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 18.9%.

Which roads in Newton see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 41 (5 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 24 (3 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and US Route 41N (3 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Newton?

Most often between noon to 6pm (29% of crashes) and on Sundays (18%); 40.8% 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.