Fatal Roads

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Ohio County

Residents 23,933Deaths 2024 5Deaths 2015–2024 58Latest 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.

Ohio County, Kentucky, recorded 5 deaths in 5 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 58 deaths in 55 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.

With 23,933 residents, that is 24.2 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 42% higher than the Kentucky rate of 17.1 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll was about level between 2005–2014 (59) and 2015–2024 (58).

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 13.8% against 13.1% for Kentucky.

35% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Thursday was the most common day (22%).

5deaths in 20245 fatal crashes
31deaths, 2020–202458 over ten years
24.2per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 20.9
+42%vs Kentucky ratestate 17.1 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0917197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 5 deaths1976: 4 deaths1977: 10 deaths1978: 17 deaths1979: 5 deaths1980: 5 deaths1981: 14 deaths1982: 10 deaths1983: 6 deaths1984: 8 deaths1985: 5 deaths1986: 4 deaths1987: 12 deaths1988: 7 deaths1989: 1–2 deaths1990: 13 deaths1991: 3 deaths1992: 9 deaths1993: 15 deaths1994: 8 deaths1995: 8 deaths1996: 5 deaths1997: 5 deaths1998: 7 deaths1999: 3 deaths2000: 8 deaths2001: 7 deaths2002: 9 deaths2003: 6 deaths2004: 8 deaths2005: 5 deaths2006: 1–2 deaths2007: 6 deaths2008: 10 deaths2009: 5 deaths2010: 5 deaths2011: 4 deaths2012: 13 deaths2013: 5 deaths2014: 4 deaths2015: 3 deaths2016: 9 deaths2017: 4 deaths2018: 6 deaths2019: 5 deaths2020: 9 deaths2021: 7 deaths2022: 1–2 deaths2023: 9 deaths2024: 5 deaths
People killed in crashes in Ohio County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 5 deaths.

Ten-year total down 2% (59 in 2005–2014, 58 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 Kentucky and the nation

MeasureOhioKentuckyUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202424.217.111.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202420.915.411.5
Deaths, 2015–2024587,684389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–2024557,075358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-2%-3%+7%
Crashes on rural roads95%66%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 23,933 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking25.5%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver12.7%
Pedestriansshare of people killed6.9%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed13.8%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used56.5%
In darknesscrashes after dark43.6%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads94.5%

tick marks the Kentucky 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 Ohio County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 55 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Thursday22%
Sunday16%
Wednesday16%
Saturday15%
Monday11%
Friday11%
Tuesday9%

Light condition

Daylight56%
Dark, not lighted35%
Dark, lighting unknown5%
Dark, lighted4%
Dawn0%
Dusk0%

Road type

Major collector53%
Minor collector15%
Local15%
Other principal arterial7%
Other freeways and expressways5%
Interstate4%
Minor arterial2%

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

Weather

Clear72%
Cloudy19%
Rain9%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Fog, smog or smoke0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Ohio

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1US Route 231US highway9475123%11%
2US Route 62US highway811412111%12%
3State Route 9001State highway4363817%8%
4State Route 54State highway4222623%9%
5Interstate 65Interstate216617919%16%

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
2024551–220.9KY 2024
2023891–237.6KY 2023
20221–21–20—KY 2022
202177329.2KY 2021
202099337.6KY 2020
2019551–220.9KY 2019
2018661–225.1KY 2018
2017441–216.7KY 2017
2016891–237.6KY 2016
20151–23012.5KY 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 Ohio County, Kentucky?

5 people died in 5 fatal crashes in 2024; 31 over 2020–2024 and 58 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Ohio compare with Kentucky?

24.2 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 17.1 for Kentucky and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Ohio involved alcohol?

25.5% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 25.3% in Kentucky. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 13.8%.

Which roads in Ohio see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 231 (9 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 62 (8 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 9001 (4 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Ohio?

Most often between noon to 6pm (35% of crashes) and on Thursdays (22%); 43.6% 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.