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Barnwell County
Residents 20,495Deaths 2024 8Deaths 2015–2024 47Latest 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.
Barnwell County, South Carolina, recorded 8 deaths in 7 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 47 deaths in 41 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.
With 20,495 residents, that is 22.4 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, close to the South Carolina rate of 20.3 and above the national rate of 11.8.
The ten-year death toll fell 30% from 67 in 2005–2014 to 47 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): 46.3% against 32.2% for South Carolina.
44% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Saturday was the most common day (29%).
Trend since 1975
Ten-year total down 30% (67 in 2005–2014, 47 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 South Carolina and the nation
| Measure | Barnwell | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–2024 | 22.4 | 20.3 | 11.8 |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 39.0 | 18.9 | 11.5 |
| Deaths, 2015–2024 | 47 | 10,473 | 389,190 |
| Fatal crashes, 2015–2024 | 41 | 9,692 | 358,460 |
| Deaths per fatal crash | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Change vs previous ten years | -30% | +15% | +7% |
| Crashes on rural roads | 95% | 59% | 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 20,495 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 Barnwell County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 41 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 South Carolina 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 Barnwell
| # | Route | Type | In county | Fatal crashes | Deaths | Alcohol | Speeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US Route 278 | US highway | 6 | 86 | 92 | 24% | 30% |
| 2 | US Route 78 | US highway | 5 | 65 | 73 | 26% | 37% |
| 3 | State Route 3 | State highway | 5 | 24 | 27 | 29% | 33% |
| 4 | State Route 64 | State highway | 3 | 36 | 39 | 22% | 31% |
| 5 | State Route 125 | State highway | 3 | 20 | 21 | 20% | 30% |
| 6 | State Route 20 | State highway | 1 | 74 | 76 | 37% | 46% |
| 7 | State Route 61 | State highway | 1 | 68 | 72 | 44% | 38% |
| 8 | State Route 14 | State highway | 1 | 53 | 60 | 42% | 32% |
| 9 | State Route 13 | State highway | 1 | 43 | 45 | 35% | 47% |
| 10 | State Route 39 | State highway | 1 | 34 | 37 | 50% | 50% |
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 | 4 | 39.0 | SC 2024 |
| 2023 | 4 | 5 | 1–2 | 24.4 | SC 2023 |
| 2022 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0 | — | SC 2022 |
| 2021 | 7 | 8 | 1–2 | 39.0 | SC 2021 |
| 2020 | 1–2 | 3 | 1–2 | 14.6 | SC 2020 |
| 2019 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 14.6 | SC 2019 |
| 2018 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | SC 2018 |
| 2017 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 39.0 | SC 2017 |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 24.4 | SC 2016 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 24.4 | SC 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 Barnwell County, South Carolina?
8 people died in 7 fatal crashes in 2024; 25 over 2020–2024 and 47 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
How does Barnwell compare with South Carolina?
22.4 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 20.3 for South Carolina and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.
What share of fatal crashes in Barnwell involved alcohol?
46.3% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 32.2% in South Carolina. The factor furthest above the state share was alcohol (a driver reported as drinking) at 46.3%.
Which roads in Barnwell see the most fatal crashes?
Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 278 (6 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 78 (5 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 3 (5 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).
When do fatal crashes happen in Barnwell?
Most often between 6pm to midnight (44% of crashes) and on Saturdays (29%); 63.4% 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.