Fatal Roads

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Washington County

Residents 28,345Deaths 2024 6Deaths 2015–2024 64Latest 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 64 people killed in 58 fatal crashes in Washington County, Indiana, between 2015 and 2024, 6 of them in 2024.

With 28,345 residents, that is 22.8 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 75% higher than the Indiana rate of 13.0 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 7% from 60 in 2005–2014 to 64 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 25.0% against 14.9% for Indiana.

28% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Saturday was the most common day (24%).

6deaths in 20245 fatal crashes
31deaths, 2020–202464 over ten years
22.8per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 21.2
+75%vs Indiana ratestate 13.0 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0713197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 9 deaths1976: 7 deaths1977: 5 deaths1978: 7 deaths1979: 7 deaths1980: 5 deaths1981: 4 deaths1982: 1–2 deaths1983: 6 deaths1984: 4 deaths1985: 9 deaths1986: 7 deaths1987: 6 deaths1988: 5 deaths1989: 1–2 deaths1990: 9 deaths1991: 11 deaths1992: 3 deaths1993: 5 deaths1994: 5 deaths1995: 4 deaths1996: 5 deaths1997: 9 deaths1998: 8 deaths1999: 3 deaths2000: 9 deaths2001: 5 deaths2002: 6 deaths2003: 5 deaths2004: 7 deaths2005: 1–2 deaths2006: 3 deaths2007: 9 deaths2008: 7 deaths2009: 1–2 deaths2010: 5 deaths2011: 6 deaths2012: 9 deaths2013: 12 deaths2014: 7 deaths2015: 5 deaths2016: 3 deaths2017: 13 deaths2018: 7 deaths2019: 5 deaths2020: 6 deaths2021: 5 deaths2022: 11 deaths2023: 3 deaths2024: 6 deaths
People killed in crashes in Washington County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 6 deaths.

Ten-year total up 7% (60 in 2005–2014, 64 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

MeasureWashingtonIndianaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202422.813.011.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202421.212.011.5
Deaths, 2015–2024648,773389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–2024588,116358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+7%+9%+7%
Crashes on rural roads91%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 28,345 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking15.5%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver20.7%
Pedestriansshare of people killed6.3%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed25%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used46.2%
In darknesscrashes after dark41.4%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads91.4%

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 Washington County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 58 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday24%
Sunday16%
Monday14%
Thursday14%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday10%
Friday10%

Light condition

Daylight52%
Dark, not lighted41%
Dawn3%
Dusk3%
Dark, lighted0%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Minor arterial40%
Major collector21%
Local21%
Other principal arterial16%
Minor collector3%
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

Clear66%
Cloudy24%
Rain3%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain3%
Fog, smog or smoke2%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow2%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Washington

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1US Route 150US highway6222618%18%
2State Route 135State highway5384411%18%
3State Route 56State highway5323413%25%

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
2024561–221.2IN 2024
202333010.6IN 2023
20229111–238.8IN 2022
2021551–217.6IN 2021
202066021.2IN 2020
2019551–217.6IN 2019
2018671–224.7IN 2018
201711131–245.9IN 2017
2016331–210.6IN 2016
201555017.6IN 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 Washington County, Indiana?

6 people died in 5 fatal crashes in 2024; 31 over 2020–2024 and 64 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Washington compare with Indiana?

22.8 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 Washington involved alcohol?

15.5% 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 25.0%.

Which roads in Washington see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 150 (6 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), State Route 135 (5 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 56 (5 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Washington?

Most often between noon to 6pm (28% of crashes) and on Saturdays (24%); 41.4% 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.