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Richland County

Residents 17,123Deaths 2024 3Deaths 2015–2024 25Latest 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, Richland County (Wisconsin) had 3 fatal crashes with 3 deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 24 fatal crashes and 25 deaths.

With 17,123 residents, that is 14.4 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 41% higher than the Wisconsin rate of 10.2 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 34% from 38 in 2005–2014 to 25 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 20.0% against 15.8% for Wisconsin.

42% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Saturday was the most common day (25%).

3deaths in 20243 fatal crashes
17deaths, 2020–202425 over ten years
14.4per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 17.5
+41%vs Wisconsin ratestate 10.2 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

059197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 4 deaths1976: 1–2 deaths1977: 5 deaths1978: 3 deaths1979: 5 deaths1980: 5 deaths1981: 6 deaths1982: 4 deaths1983: 3 deaths1984: 3 deaths1985: 1–2 deaths1986: 3 deaths1987: 9 deaths1988: 1–2 deaths1989: 3 deaths1990: 1–2 deaths1991: 5 deaths1992: 5 deaths1993: 3 deaths1994: 1–2 deaths1995: 5 deaths1996: 6 deaths1997: 6 deaths1998: 1–2 deaths1999: 1–2 deaths2000: 1–2 deaths2001: 5 deaths2002: 5 deaths2003: 1–2 deaths2004: 1–2 deaths2005: 5 deaths2006: 4 deaths2007: 1–2 deaths2008: 4 deaths2009: 3 deaths2010: 3 deaths2011: 4 deaths2012: 3 deaths2013: 4 deaths2014: 7 deaths2015: 0 deaths2016: 4 deaths2017: 1–2 deaths2018: 1–2 deaths2019: 0 deaths2020: 1–2 deaths2021: 4 deaths2022: 4 deaths2023: 4 deaths2024: 3 deaths
People killed in crashes in Richland County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 3 deaths.

Ten-year total down 34% (38 in 2005–2014, 25 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 Wisconsin and the nation

MeasureRichlandWisconsinUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202414.410.211.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202417.510.011.5
Deaths, 2015–2024255,959389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–2024245,431358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.01.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-34%-5%+7%
Crashes on rural roads96%63%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 17,123 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking16.7%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver8.3%
Pedestriansshare of people killed8%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed20%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used56.3%
In darknesscrashes after dark34.8%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads95.8%

tick marks the Wisconsin 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 Richland County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 24 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday25%
Thursday17%
Sunday13%
Monday13%
Tuesday13%
Friday13%
Wednesday8%

Light condition

Daylight61%
Dark, not lighted30%
Dark, lighted4%
Dawn4%
Dusk0%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Minor arterial42%
Major collector21%
Local21%
Other principal arterial8%
Minor collector8%
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 Wisconsin share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear71%
Cloudy17%
Rain4%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain4%
Fog, smog or smoke4%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Richland

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1US Route 14US highway2596531%14%
2State Route 60State highway1252928%24%

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
202433017.5WI 2024
2023441–223.4WI 2023
202244023.4WI 2022
2021441–223.4WI 2021
20201–21–21–2—WI 2020
2019000—WI 2019
20181–21–20—WI 2018
20171–21–20—WI 2017
201634023.4WI 2016
2015000—WI 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 Richland County, Wisconsin?

3 people died in 3 fatal crashes in 2024; 17 over 2020–2024 and 25 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Richland compare with Wisconsin?

14.4 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 10.2 for Wisconsin and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Richland involved alcohol?

16.7% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 33.4% in Wisconsin. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 20.0%.

Which roads in Richland see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 14 (2 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 60 (1 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Richland?

Most often between noon to 6pm (42% of crashes) and on Saturdays (25%); 34.8% 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.