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Sandusky County
Residents 58,866Deaths 2024 8Deaths 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, Sandusky County (Ohio) had 7 fatal crashes with 8 deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 88 fatal crashes and 100 deaths.
With 58,866 residents, that is 17.0 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 68% higher than the Ohio rate of 10.1 and above the national rate of 11.8.
The ten-year death toll rose 16% from 86 in 2005–2014 to 100 in 2015–2024.
Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is alcohol (a driver reported as drinking): 30.7% against 31.7% for Ohio.
33% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Thursday was the most common day (19%).
Trend since 1975
Ten-year total up 16% (86 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
| Measure | Sandusky | Ohio | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–2024 | 17.0 | 10.1 | 11.8 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 13.6 | 9.7 | 11.5 |
| Deaths, 2015–2024 | 100 | 11,899 | 389,190 |
| Fatal crashes, 2015–2024 | 88 | 11,013 | 358,460 |
| Deaths per fatal crash | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Change vs previous ten years | +16% | +6% | +7% |
| Crashes on rural roads | 69% | 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 58,866 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 Sandusky County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 88 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 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
Routes with the most fatal crashes in Sandusky
| # | Route | Type | In county | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Alcohol | Speeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US Route 20 | US highway | 17 | 114 | 126 | 27% | 12% |
| 2 | Interstate 80 | Interstate | 11 | 111 | 131 | 22% | 14% |
| 3 | US Route 6 | US highway | 9 | 121 | 136 | 33% | 22% |
| 4 | State Route 53 | State highway | 4 | 20 | 20 | 25% | 20% |
| 5 | US Route 23 | US highway | 1 | 137 | 147 | 12% | 7% |
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 | 7 | 8 | 1–2 | 13.6 | OH 2024 |
| 2023 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 20.4 | OH 2023 |
| 2022 | 7 | 7 | 1–2 | 11.9 | OH 2022 |
| 2021 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6.8 | OH 2021 |
| 2020 | 11 | 13 | 1–2 | 22.1 | OH 2020 |
| 2019 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 20.4 | OH 2019 |
| 2018 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 18.7 | OH 2018 |
| 2017 | 9 | 11 | 1–2 | 18.7 | OH 2017 |
| 2016 | 11 | 12 | 4 | 20.4 | OH 2016 |
| 2015 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 17.0 | OH 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 Sandusky County, Ohio?
8 people died in 7 fatal crashes in 2024; 44 over 2020–2024 and 100 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
How does Sandusky compare with Ohio?
17.0 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 Sandusky involved alcohol?
30.7% 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 alcohol (a driver reported as drinking) at 30.7%.
Which roads in Sandusky see the most fatal crashes?
Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 20 (17 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), Interstate 80 (11 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and US Route 6 (9 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).
When do fatal crashes happen in Sandusky?
Most often between 6pm to midnight (33% of crashes) and on Thursdays (19%); 39.8% 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.