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Wells County
Residents 28,798Deaths 2024 5Deaths 2015–2024 43Latest 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.
Wells County, Indiana, recorded 5 deaths in 5 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 43 deaths in 39 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.
With 28,798 residents, that is 15.3 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 18% higher than the Indiana rate of 13.0 and above the national rate of 11.8.
The ten-year death toll rose 30% from 33 in 2005–2014 to 43 in 2015–2024.
Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is alcohol (a driver reported as drinking): 15.4% against 19.6% for Indiana.
36% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6am to noon, and Sunday was the most common day (18%).
Trend since 1975
Ten-year total up 30% (33 in 2005–2014, 43 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
| Measure | Wells | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–2024 | 15.3 | 13.0 | 11.8 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 17.4 | 12.0 | 11.5 |
| Deaths, 2015–2024 | 43 | 8,773 | 389,190 |
| Fatal crashes, 2015–2024 | 39 | 8,116 | 358,460 |
| Deaths per fatal crash | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Change vs previous ten years | +30% | +9% | +7% |
| Crashes on rural roads | 90% | 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 28,798 in 2024.
Factors
"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
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Fatal crashes in Wells County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 39 crashes with a known hour and weekday.
By weekday
Light condition
Road type
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
Routes with the most fatal crashes in Wells
| # | Route | Type | In county | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Alcohol | Speeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Route 1 | State highway | 7 | 34 | 38 | 15% | 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
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Drinking-driver crashes | Per 100,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 17.4 | IN 2024 |
| 2023 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | IN 2023 |
| 2022 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0 | — | IN 2022 |
| 2021 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 17.4 | IN 2021 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 1–2 | 17.4 | IN 2020 |
| 2019 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0 | — | IN 2019 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 20.8 | IN 2018 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 13.9 | IN 2017 |
| 2016 | 7 | 7 | 1–2 | 24.3 | IN 2016 |
| 2015 | 3 | 6 | 1–2 | 20.8 | IN 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 Wells County, Indiana?
5 people died in 5 fatal crashes in 2024; 19 over 2020–2024 and 43 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
How does Wells compare with Indiana?
15.3 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 Wells involved alcohol?
15.4% 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 alcohol (a driver reported as drinking) at 15.4%.
Which roads in Wells see the most fatal crashes?
Among signed routes with a page on this site, State Route 1 (7 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).
When do fatal crashes happen in Wells?
Most often between 6am to noon (36% of crashes) and on Sundays (18%); 30.8% 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.