Fatal Roads

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Knox County

Residents 63,848Deaths 2024 3Deaths 2015–2024 71Latest 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.

NHTSA's FARS file lists 71 people killed in 67 fatal crashes in Knox County, Ohio, between 2015 and 2024, 3 of them in 2024.

With 63,848 residents, that is 11.4 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, close to the Ohio rate of 10.1 and close to the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 12% from 81 in 2005–2014 to 71 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is speeding: 32.8% against 22.7% for Ohio.

43% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Saturday was the most common day (25%).

3deaths in 20243 fatal crashes
31deaths, 2020–202471 over ten years
11.4per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 4.7
+13%vs Ohio ratestate 10.1 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

01122197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 12 deaths1976: 9 deaths1977: 4 deaths1978: 10 deaths1979: 7 deaths1980: 3 deaths1981: 5 deaths1982: 8 deaths1983: 22 deaths1984: 7 deaths1985: 9 deaths1986: 11 deaths1987: 5 deaths1988: 9 deaths1989: 9 deaths1990: 10 deaths1991: 4 deaths1992: 9 deaths1993: 9 deaths1994: 1–2 deaths1995: 6 deaths1996: 1–2 deaths1997: 11 deaths1998: 13 deaths1999: 14 deaths2000: 9 deaths2001: 10 deaths2002: 9 deaths2003: 9 deaths2004: 5 deaths2005: 14 deaths2006: 6 deaths2007: 12 deaths2008: 10 deaths2009: 8 deaths2010: 10 deaths2011: 8 deaths2012: 4 deaths2013: 3 deaths2014: 6 deaths2015: 6 deaths2016: 8 deaths2017: 6 deaths2018: 13 deaths2019: 7 deaths2020: 6 deaths2021: 5 deaths2022: 10 deaths2023: 7 deaths2024: 3 deaths
People killed in crashes in Knox County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 3 deaths.

Ten-year total down 12% (81 in 2005–2014, 71 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

MeasureKnoxOhioUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202411.410.111.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 20244.79.711.5
Deaths, 2015–20247111,899389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20246711,013358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-12%+6%+7%
Crashes on rural roads84%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 63,848 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking35.8%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver32.8%
Pedestriansshare of people killed2.8%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed21.1%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used47.1%
In darknesscrashes after dark31.3%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads83.6%

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 Knox County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 67 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday25%
Thursday19%
Friday19%
Sunday15%
Monday12%
Tuesday6%
Wednesday3%

Light condition

Daylight64%
Dark, not lighted27%
Dark, lighted4%
Dawn3%
Dusk1%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Major collector31%
Local30%
Minor arterial22%
Other principal arterial12%
Minor collector4%
Interstate0%
Other freeways and expressways0%

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

Clear61%
Cloudy26%
Rain5%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain5%
Fog, smog or smoke5%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Knox

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1State Route 3State highway8596432%25%
2State Route 13State highway8444818%11%
3US Route 36US highway6616438%16%
4US Route 62US highway111812632%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
2024331–24.7OH 2024
2023671–211.0OH 2023
2022910315.7OH 2022
2021551–27.8OH 2021
20206639.4OH 2020
201977411.0OH 2019
20181213620.4OH 2018
20176639.4OH 2017
2016781–212.5OH 2016
20156609.4OH 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 Knox County, Ohio?

3 people died in 3 fatal crashes in 2024; 31 over 2020–2024 and 71 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Knox compare with Ohio?

11.4 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 Knox involved alcohol?

35.8% 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 32.8%.

Which roads in Knox see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, State Route 3 (8 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), State Route 13 (8 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and US Route 36 (6 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Knox?

Most often between noon to 6pm (43% of crashes) and on Saturdays (25%); 31.3% 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.