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Highland County

Residents 43,785Deaths 2024 6Deaths 2015–2024 68Latest 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, Highland County (Ohio) had 4 fatal crashes with 6 deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 60 fatal crashes and 68 deaths.

With 43,785 residents, that is 15.7 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 55% higher than the Ohio rate of 10.1 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll was about level between 2005–2014 (71) and 2015–2024 (68).

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is speeding: 31.7% against 22.7% for Ohio.

27% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6am to noon, and Friday was the most common day (20%).

6deaths in 20244 fatal crashes
39deaths, 2020–202468 over ten years
15.7per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 13.7
+55%vs Ohio ratestate 10.1 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0815197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 12 deaths1976: 4 deaths1977: 11 deaths1978: 4 deaths1979: 7 deaths1980: 15 deaths1981: 1–2 deaths1982: 6 deaths1983: 7 deaths1984: 7 deaths1985: 7 deaths1986: 8 deaths1987: 14 deaths1988: 3 deaths1989: 15 deaths1990: 8 deaths1991: 3 deaths1992: 7 deaths1993: 5 deaths1994: 12 deaths1995: 10 deaths1996: 6 deaths1997: 6 deaths1998: 5 deaths1999: 11 deaths2000: 5 deaths2001: 7 deaths2002: 7 deaths2003: 10 deaths2004: 6 deaths2005: 10 deaths2006: 10 deaths2007: 7 deaths2008: 9 deaths2009: 7 deaths2010: 5 deaths2011: 5 deaths2012: 10 deaths2013: 5 deaths2014: 3 deaths2015: 7 deaths2016: 9 deaths2017: 4 deaths2018: 7 deaths2019: 1–2 deaths2020: 11 deaths2021: 9 deaths2022: 6 deaths2023: 7 deaths2024: 6 deaths
People killed in crashes in Highland County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 6 deaths.

Ten-year total down 4% (71 in 2005–2014, 68 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

MeasureHighlandOhioUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202415.710.111.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202413.79.711.5
Deaths, 2015–20246811,899389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20246011,013358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-4%+6%+7%
Crashes on rural roads92%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 43,785 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking31.7%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver31.7%
Pedestriansshare of people killed2.9%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed10.3%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used64.8%
In darknesscrashes after dark40%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads91.5%

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 Highland County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 60 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Friday20%
Saturday20%
Sunday15%
Wednesday15%
Thursday12%
Tuesday10%
Monday8%

Light condition

Daylight55%
Dark, not lighted38%
Dawn3%
Dark, lighted2%
Dusk2%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Major collector47%
Minor arterial32%
Local14%
Minor collector7%
Interstate0%
Other freeways and expressways0%
Other principal arterial0%

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

Clear67%
Cloudy28%
Rain3%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain2%
Fog, smog or smoke0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Highland

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1US Route 50US highway11768628%25%
2State Route 73State highway8566320%20%
3State Route 28State highway5273126%30%
4US Route 62US highway411812632%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
2024461–213.7OH 2024
2023671–216.0OH 2023
2022561–213.7OH 2022
2021891–220.6OH 2021
20201011425.1OH 2020
20191–21–21–2—OH 2019
201877016.0OH 2018
2017441–29.1OH 2017
2016791–220.6OH 2016
201577316.0OH 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 Highland County, Ohio?

6 people died in 4 fatal crashes in 2024; 39 over 2020–2024 and 68 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Highland compare with Ohio?

15.7 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 Highland involved alcohol?

31.7% 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 31.7%.

Which roads in Highland see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 50 (11 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), State Route 73 (8 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 28 (5 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Highland?

Most often between 6am to noon (27% of crashes) and on Fridays (20%); 40.0% 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.