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Cuyahoga County

Residents 1,240,594Deaths 2024 118Deaths 2015–2024 949Latest 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.

Cuyahoga County, Ohio, recorded 118 deaths in 111 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 949 deaths in 893 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.

With 1,240,594 residents, that is 7.6 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 25% lower than the Ohio rate of 10.1 and below the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 53% from 622 in 2005–2014 to 949 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is speeding: 36.4% against 22.7% for Ohio.

33% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Saturday was the most common day (21%).

118deaths in 2024111 fatal crashes
548deaths, 2020–2024949 over ten years
7.6per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 9.5
-25%vs Ohio ratestate 10.1 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0109217197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 170 deaths1976: 193 deaths1977: 176 deaths1978: 173 deaths1979: 217 deaths1980: 194 deaths1981: 172 deaths1982: 136 deaths1983: 155 deaths1984: 170 deaths1985: 154 deaths1986: 133 deaths1987: 148 deaths1988: 126 deaths1989: 121 deaths1990: 127 deaths1991: 112 deaths1992: 80 deaths1993: 78 deaths1994: 73 deaths1995: 83 deaths1996: 86 deaths1997: 91 deaths1998: 91 deaths1999: 96 deaths2000: 71 deaths2001: 77 deaths2002: 66 deaths2003: 69 deaths2004: 75 deaths2005: 59 deaths2006: 68 deaths2007: 65 deaths2008: 96 deaths2009: 60 deaths2010: 63 deaths2011: 61 deaths2012: 48 deaths2013: 56 deaths2014: 46 deaths2015: 75 deaths2016: 82 deaths2017: 95 deaths2018: 63 deaths2019: 86 deaths2020: 111 deaths2021: 129 deaths2022: 86 deaths2023: 104 deaths2024: 118 deaths
People killed in crashes in Cuyahoga County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 118 deaths.

Ten-year total up 53% (622 in 2005–2014, 949 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 Ohio and the nation

MeasureCuyahogaOhioUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–20247.610.111.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 20249.59.711.5
Deaths, 2015–202494911,899389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–202489311,013358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+53%+6%+7%
Crashes on rural roads1%42%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 1,240,594 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking38%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver36.4%
Pedestriansshare of people killed17.8%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed15.7%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used65.4%
In darknesscrashes after dark57.7%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads1%

tick marks the Ohio 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 Cuyahoga County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 893 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday21%
Friday17%
Sunday15%
Thursday13%
Monday11%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday11%

Light condition

Dark, lighted54%
Daylight37%
Dark, not lighted3%
Dusk3%
Dawn2%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Minor arterial31%
Interstate25%
Other principal arterial22%
Major collector12%
Local7%
Other freeways and expressways2%
Minor collector0%

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

Weather

Clear59%
Cloudy29%
Rain9%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain3%
Fog, smog or smoke0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Cuyahoga

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1Interstate 90Interstate739910432%22%
2Interstate 480Interstate53606335%37%
3US Route 422US highway38556036%31%
4US Route 6US highway3712113633%22%
5Interstate 71Interstate2921424435%17%
6Interstate 271Interstate21293024%35%
7Interstate 77Interstate19859321%29%
8State Route 10State highway18212324%29%
9US Route 20US highway1511412627%12%
10Interstate 80Interstate1311113122%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
2024111118429.5OH 2024
2023100104228.4OH 2023
20228286356.9OH 2022
20211211294910.4OH 2021
2020105111408.9OH 2020
20197986416.9OH 2019
20185963215.1OH 2018
20179195327.7OH 2017
20167582276.6OH 2016
20157075306.0OH 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 Cuyahoga County, Ohio?

118 people died in 111 fatal crashes in 2024; 548 over 2020–2024 and 949 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Cuyahoga compare with Ohio?

7.6 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 10.1 for Ohio and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Cuyahoga involved alcohol?

38.0% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 31.7% in Ohio. The factor furthest above the state share was speeding at 36.4%.

Which roads in Cuyahoga see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, Interstate 90 (73 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), Interstate 480 (53 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and US Route 422 (38 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Cuyahoga?

Most often between 6pm to midnight (33% of crashes) and on Saturdays (21%); 57.7% 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.