Fatal Roads

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Erie County

Residents 73,841Deaths 2024 10Deaths 2015–2024 100Latest 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, Erie County (Ohio) had 10 fatal crashes with 10 deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 90 fatal crashes and 100 deaths.

With 73,841 residents, that is 13.4 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 33% higher than the Ohio rate of 10.1 and close to the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 19% from 84 in 2005–2014 to 100 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 21.0% against 16.3% for Ohio.

33% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Friday was the most common day (27%).

10deaths in 202410 fatal crashes
52deaths, 2020–2024100 over ten years
13.4per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 13.5
+33%vs Ohio ratestate 10.1 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

01836197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 17 deaths1976: 14 deaths1977: 25 deaths1978: 30 deaths1979: 36 deaths1980: 18 deaths1981: 14 deaths1982: 12 deaths1983: 17 deaths1984: 27 deaths1985: 17 deaths1986: 15 deaths1987: 12 deaths1988: 17 deaths1989: 23 deaths1990: 21 deaths1991: 20 deaths1992: 19 deaths1993: 22 deaths1994: 13 deaths1995: 17 deaths1996: 16 deaths1997: 12 deaths1998: 19 deaths1999: 11 deaths2000: 14 deaths2001: 10 deaths2002: 13 deaths2003: 10 deaths2004: 9 deaths2005: 9 deaths2006: 12 deaths2007: 1–2 deaths2008: 14 deaths2009: 6 deaths2010: 10 deaths2011: 6 deaths2012: 11 deaths2013: 10 deaths2014: 5 deaths2015: 11 deaths2016: 11 deaths2017: 8 deaths2018: 6 deaths2019: 12 deaths2020: 10 deaths2021: 11 deaths2022: 9 deaths2023: 12 deaths2024: 10 deaths
People killed in crashes in Erie County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 10 deaths.

Ten-year total up 19% (84 in 2005–2014, 100 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

MeasureErieOhioUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202413.410.111.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202413.59.711.5
Deaths, 2015–202410011,899389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20249011,013358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+19%+6%+7%
Crashes on rural roads46%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 73,841 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking28.9%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver22.2%
Pedestriansshare of people killed5%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed21%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used41.2%
In darknesscrashes after dark41.1%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads46.1%

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 Erie County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 90 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Friday27%
Sunday22%
Tuesday14%
Monday13%
Saturday12%
Wednesday9%
Thursday2%

Light condition

Daylight53%
Dark, not lighted30%
Dark, lighted11%
Dusk4%
Dawn1%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Major collector26%
Other principal arterial18%
Minor arterial17%
Interstate15%
Local12%
Other freeways and expressways11%
Minor collector1%

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

Clear63%
Cloudy24%
Rain6%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain4%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow2%
Fog, smog or smoke0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Erie

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1Interstate 80Interstate1311113122%14%
2US Route 6US highway1112113633%22%
3US Route 250US highway11465024%15%
4State Route 2State highway10677137%31%
5State Route 4State highway3879923%16%
6State Route 60State highway2333630%30%
7State Route 61State highway2282814%11%

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
20241010413.5OH 2024
20231112616.3OH 2023
2022591–212.2OH 2022
20219111–214.9OH 2021
202010101–213.5OH 2020
20191012316.3OH 2019
2018661–28.1OH 2018
201788310.8OH 2017
20161111314.9OH 2016
201510111–214.9OH 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 Erie County, Ohio?

10 people died in 10 fatal crashes in 2024; 52 over 2020–2024 and 100 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Erie compare with Ohio?

13.4 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 Erie involved alcohol?

28.9% 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 motorcyclists at 21.0%.

Which roads in Erie see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, Interstate 80 (13 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 6 (11 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and US Route 250 (11 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Erie?

Most often between noon to 6pm (33% of crashes) and on Fridays (27%); 41.1% 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.