Fatal Roads

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South Carolina · county

York County

Residents 303,001Deaths 2024 34Deaths 2015–2024 338Latest 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 338 people killed in 314 fatal crashes in York County, South Carolina, between 2015 and 2024, 34 of them in 2024.

With 303,001 residents, that is 12.1 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 40% lower than the South Carolina rate of 20.3 and close to the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 22% from 277 in 2005–2014 to 338 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): 36.9% against 32.2% for South Carolina.

33% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Saturday was the most common day (19%).

34deaths in 202430 fatal crashes
171deaths, 2020–2024338 over ten years
12.1per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 11.2
-40%vs South Carolina ratestate 20.3 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

02550197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 26 deaths1976: 24 deaths1977: 28 deaths1978: 25 deaths1979: 27 deaths1980: 19 deaths1981: 29 deaths1982: 24 deaths1983: 25 deaths1984: 18 deaths1985: 32 deaths1986: 37 deaths1987: 44 deaths1988: 37 deaths1989: 32 deaths1990: 33 deaths1991: 23 deaths1992: 20 deaths1993: 30 deaths1994: 30 deaths1995: 30 deaths1996: 32 deaths1997: 19 deaths1998: 25 deaths1999: 45 deaths2000: 28 deaths2001: 30 deaths2002: 21 deaths2003: 31 deaths2004: 33 deaths2005: 32 deaths2006: 27 deaths2007: 28 deaths2008: 31 deaths2009: 27 deaths2010: 26 deaths2011: 31 deaths2012: 27 deaths2013: 23 deaths2014: 25 deaths2015: 18 deaths2016: 36 deaths2017: 28 deaths2018: 35 deaths2019: 50 deaths2020: 36 deaths2021: 43 deaths2022: 28 deaths2023: 30 deaths2024: 34 deaths
People killed in crashes in York County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 34 deaths.

Ten-year total up 22% (277 in 2005–2014, 338 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

MeasureYorkSouth CarolinaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202412.120.311.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202411.218.911.5
Deaths, 2015–202433810,473389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20243149,692358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+22%+15%+7%
Crashes on rural roads50%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 303,001 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking36.9%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver41.1%
Pedestriansshare of people killed13.9%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed17.2%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used43.8%
In darknesscrashes after dark41.7%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads49.7%

tick marks the South Carolina 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 York County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 314 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday19%
Friday18%
Sunday14%
Monday13%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday13%
Thursday10%

Light condition

Daylight54%
Dark, not lighted29%
Dark, lighted7%
Dark, lighting unknown5%
Dusk2%
Dawn2%

Road type

Minor arterial36%
Other principal arterial29%
Major collector12%
Interstate11%
Local9%
Minor collector3%
Other freeways and expressways0%

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

Clear84%
Rain7%
Cloudy7%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain1%
Fog, smog or smoke1%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in York

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1Interstate 77Interstate3613915839%50%
2US Route 21US highway2815417429%40%
3State Route 49State highway23555944%31%
4State Route 5State highway23455038%33%
5State Route 161State highway20222327%32%
6State Route 55State highway11313226%42%
7State Route 72State highway9687743%50%
8US Route 321US highway6879222%31%
9State Route 6State highway5838745%46%
10State Route 101State highway4414549%49%

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
202430341011.2SC 2024
20232930109.9SC 2023
20222828149.2SC 2022
202137431414.2SC 2021
202036361511.9SC 2020
201943501316.5SC 2019
20183435911.6SC 2018
20172528119.2SC 2017
201634361211.9SC 2016
2015181885.9SC 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 York County, South Carolina?

34 people died in 30 fatal crashes in 2024; 171 over 2020–2024 and 338 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does York compare with South Carolina?

12.1 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 York involved alcohol?

36.9% 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 36.9%.

Which roads in York see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, Interstate 77 (36 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 21 (28 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 49 (23 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in York?

Most often between noon to 6pm (33% of crashes) and on Saturdays (19%); 41.7% 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.