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Columbia County
Residents 60,299Deaths 2024 5Deaths 2015–2024 82Latest 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, Columbia County (New York) had 5 fatal crashes with 5 deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 77 fatal crashes and 82 deaths.
With 60,299 residents, that is 13.5 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, about 2.5 times the New York rate of 5.4 and close to the national rate of 11.8.
The ten-year death toll rose 6% from 77 in 2005–2014 to 82 in 2015–2024.
Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 18.3% against 16.4% for New York.
35% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Thursday was the most common day (18%).
Trend since 1975
Ten-year total up 6% (77 in 2005–2014, 82 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 New York and the nation
| Measure | Columbia | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–2024 | 13.5 | 5.4 | 11.8 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 8.3 | 5.5 | 11.5 |
| Deaths, 2015–2024 | 82 | 10,682 | 389,190 |
| Fatal crashes, 2015–2024 | 77 | 10,008 | 358,460 |
| Deaths per fatal crash | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Change vs previous ten years | +6% | -14% | +7% |
| Crashes on rural roads | 82% | 30% | 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 60,299 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 Columbia County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 77 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 New York 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 Columbia
| # | Route | Type | In county | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Alcohol | Speeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US Route 9 | US highway | 14 | 118 | 124 | 18% | 23% |
| 2 | State Route 22 | State highway | 7 | 53 | 57 | 21% | 17% |
| 3 | State Route 23 | State highway | 7 | 37 | 41 | 30% | 38% |
| 4 | Interstate 90 | Interstate | 4 | 90 | 106 | 9% | 23% |
| 5 | State Route 987G | State highway | 4 | 42 | 45 | 24% | 52% |
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 | 1–2 | 8.3 | NY 2024 |
| 2023 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 28.2 | NY 2023 |
| 2022 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 11.6 | NY 2022 |
| 2021 | 7 | 8 | 1–2 | 13.3 | NY 2021 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 1–2 | 8.3 | NY 2020 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 | 1–2 | 10.0 | NY 2019 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 | 1–2 | 11.6 | NY 2018 |
| 2017 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 18.2 | NY 2017 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 | 1–2 | 13.3 | NY 2016 |
| 2015 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 13.3 | NY 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 Columbia County, New York?
5 people died in 5 fatal crashes in 2024; 42 over 2020–2024 and 82 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
How does Columbia compare with New York?
13.5 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 5.4 for New York and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.
What share of fatal crashes in Columbia involved alcohol?
20.8% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 20.2% in New York. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 18.3%.
Which roads in Columbia see the most fatal crashes?
Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 9 (14 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), State Route 22 (7 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 23 (7 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).
When do fatal crashes happen in Columbia?
Most often between noon to 6pm (35% of crashes) and on Thursdays (18%); 42.1% 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.