Fatal Roads

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Pennsylvania · county

Washington County

Residents 210,434Deaths 2024 29Deaths 2015–2024 234Latest 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.

Washington County, Pennsylvania, recorded 29 deaths in 27 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 234 deaths in 222 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.

With 210,434 residents, that is 11.2 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 24% higher than the Pennsylvania rate of 9.0 and close to the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 17% from 282 in 2005–2014 to 234 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): 36.5% against 25.4% for Pennsylvania.

34% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Wednesday was the most common day (17%).

29deaths in 202427 fatal crashes
109deaths, 2020–2024234 over ten years
11.2per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 13.8
+24%vs Pennsylvania ratestate 9.0 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

02346197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 27 deaths1976: 46 deaths1977: 35 deaths1978: 40 deaths1979: 30 deaths1980: 43 deaths1981: 42 deaths1982: 36 deaths1983: 35 deaths1984: 33 deaths1985: 31 deaths1986: 39 deaths1987: 39 deaths1988: 40 deaths1989: 30 deaths1990: 34 deaths1991: 37 deaths1992: 37 deaths1993: 38 deaths1994: 18 deaths1995: 25 deaths1996: 28 deaths1997: 29 deaths1998: 16 deaths1999: 29 deaths2000: 30 deaths2001: 23 deaths2002: 27 deaths2003: 26 deaths2004: 27 deaths2005: 27 deaths2006: 21 deaths2007: 32 deaths2008: 31 deaths2009: 33 deaths2010: 24 deaths2011: 27 deaths2012: 29 deaths2013: 29 deaths2014: 29 deaths2015: 23 deaths2016: 22 deaths2017: 27 deaths2018: 29 deaths2019: 24 deaths2020: 29 deaths2021: 23 deaths2022: 13 deaths2023: 15 deaths2024: 29 deaths
People killed in crashes in Washington County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 29 deaths.

Ten-year total down 17% (282 in 2005–2014, 234 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 Pennsylvania and the nation

MeasureWashingtonPennsylvaniaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202411.29.011.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202413.88.611.5
Deaths, 2015–202423411,650389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–202422210,864358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-17%-15%+7%
Crashes on rural roads59%45%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 210,434 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking36.5%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver45%
Pedestriansshare of people killed7.7%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed19.2%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used65.3%
In darknesscrashes after dark50%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads59%

tick marks the Pennsylvania 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 Washington County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 222 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Wednesday17%
Saturday17%
Sunday16%
Friday15%
Tuesday12%
Thursday12%
Monday11%

Light condition

Daylight46%
Dark, not lighted40%
Dark, lighted10%
Dusk3%
Dawn1%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Minor arterial21%
Interstate20%
Other principal arterial18%
Local17%
Major collector16%
Minor collector6%
Other freeways and expressways2%

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

Weather

Clear77%
Rain13%
Cloudy7%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain3%
Fog, smog or smoke1%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Washington

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1US Route 40US highway24516126%41%
2Interstate 70Interstate23404425%55%
3Interstate 79Interstate16737821%38%
4US Route 19US highway9657123%37%
5State Route 18State highway8464822%39%
6US Route 22US highway613615024%49%
7State Route 837State highway5242542%46%
8State Route 1009State highway3303013%27%
9State Route 4004State highway3222246%59%
10State Route 1002State highway2262827%35%

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
202427291213.8PA 2024
2023141597.1PA 2023
2022131366.2PA 2022
202122231010.9PA 2021
20202829813.8PA 2020
20192324511.4PA 2019
20182729913.8PA 2018
20172527612.8PA 2017
20162222810.5PA 2016
20152123810.9PA 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 Washington County, Pennsylvania?

29 people died in 27 fatal crashes in 2024; 109 over 2020–2024 and 234 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Washington compare with Pennsylvania?

11.2 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 9.0 for Pennsylvania and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Washington involved alcohol?

36.5% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 25.4% in Pennsylvania. The factor furthest above the state share was alcohol (a driver reported as drinking) at 36.5%.

Which roads in Washington see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 40 (24 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), Interstate 70 (23 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and Interstate 79 (16 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Washington?

Most often between noon to 6pm (34% of crashes) and on Wednesdays (17%); 50.0% 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.