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Chippewa County

Residents 36,253Deaths 2024 3Deaths 2015–2024 38Latest 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, Chippewa County (Michigan) had 3 fatal crashes with 3 deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 36 fatal crashes and 38 deaths.

With 36,253 residents, that is 10.3 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, close to the Michigan rate of 10.5 and close to the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 19% from 47 in 2005–2014 to 38 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): 38.9% against 28.1% for Michigan.

39% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Thursday was the most common day (33%).

3deaths in 20243 fatal crashes
18deaths, 2020–202438 over ten years
10.3per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 8.3
-2%vs Michigan ratestate 10.5 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

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

Ten-year total down 19% (47 in 2005–2014, 38 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 Michigan and the nation

MeasureChippewaMichiganUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202410.310.511.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 20248.310.811.5
Deaths, 2015–20243810,567389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–2024369,800358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-19%+8%+7%
Crashes on rural roads67%41%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 36,253 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking38.9%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver16.7%
Pedestriansshare of people killed5.3%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed7.9%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used25%
In darknesscrashes after dark44.4%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads66.7%

tick marks the Michigan 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 Chippewa County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 36 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Thursday33%
Friday22%
Saturday14%
Tuesday11%
Monday8%
Wednesday8%
Sunday3%

Light condition

Daylight53%
Dark, not lighted36%
Dark, lighted8%
Dusk3%
Dawn0%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Major collector47%
Minor arterial25%
Local17%
Interstate11%
Other freeways and expressways0%
Other principal arterial0%
Minor collector0%

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

Weather

Clear64%
Cloudy17%
Rain8%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain6%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow6%
Fog, smog or smoke0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Chippewa

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1Interstate 75Interstate422225028%28%
2State Route 46State highway1657319%14%

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
2024331–28.3MI 2024
20233308.3MI 2023
20221–21–20—MI 2022
2021331–28.3MI 2021
2020671–219.3MI 2020
2019331–28.3MI 2019
2018451–213.8MI 2018
20171–21–21–2—MI 2017
2016441–211.0MI 2016
201566316.6MI 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 Chippewa County, Michigan?

3 people died in 3 fatal crashes in 2024; 18 over 2020–2024 and 38 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Chippewa compare with Michigan?

10.3 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 10.5 for Michigan and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Chippewa involved alcohol?

38.9% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 28.1% in Michigan. The factor furthest above the state share was alcohol (a driver reported as drinking) at 38.9%.

Which roads in Chippewa see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, Interstate 75 (4 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 46 (1 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Chippewa?

Most often between noon to 6pm (39% of crashes) and on Thursdays (33%); 44.4% 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.