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1997

Nebraska · year

Nebraska in 1997

Deaths 302Fatal crashes 261Per 100,000 —US deaths 42,013

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. Final FARS file for 1997.

In 1997, 302 people died in 261 fatal crashes in Nebraska.

The death toll was about level between 1996 (293) and 1997 (302).

Nebraska accounted for 0.7% of the 42,013 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

31.4% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

33% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Friday was the most common day.

Compared with 1996 and the nation

MeasureNebraska 1997Nebraska 1996United States 1997
Deaths30229342,013
Fatal crashes26124037,324
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver31%30%30%

Counties in 1997

Every county with a fatal crash in 1997, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 71 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Douglas County34366.0441
Lancaster County18216.3203
Buffalo County101223.560
Hall County91117.571
Merrick County711140.427
Gage County8941.528
Lincoln County7824.061
Sarpy County783.9106
Dakota County6837.524
Madison County7719.752
Otoe County3742.226
Dawson County6624.451
Scotts Bluff County6616.853
Seward County6633.848
Washington County3628.224
Adams County5516.034
Platte County5514.130
Saunders County5521.447
York County5534.843
Cedar County4560.526
Dodge County4513.264
Pierce County4568.216
Deuel County35264.311
Cass County4414.562
Saline County4427.127
Boone County3474.76
Furnas County3489.53
Thurston County3460.325
Stanton County1–2469.58
Antelope County3347.222
Butler County3335.519
Cheyenne County3331.222
Holt County3329.68
Johnson County3357.512
Knox County3336.112
Richardson County3339.114
Frontier County1–23118.35
Hamilton County1–2331.419
Box Butte County1–21–2—25
Clay County1–21–2—17
Custer County1–21–2—22
Dundy County1–21–2—4
Harlan County1–21–2—8
Keith County1–21–2—33
Nuckolls County1–21–2—3
Red Willow County1–21–2—16
Rock County1–21–2—3
Sheridan County1–21–2—19
Thayer County1–21–2—11
Wayne County1–21–2—18
Banner County1–21–2—3
Gosper County1–21–2—8
Howard County1–21–2—9
Valley County1–21–2—4
Boyd County1–21–2—2
Brown County1–21–2—3
Burt County1–21–2—20
Cherry County1–21–2—23
Cuming County1–21–2—18
Dawes County1–21–2—11
Dixon County1–21–2—4
Fillmore County1–21–2—12
Grant County1–21–2—2
Kearney County1–21–2—16
Kimball County1–21–2—25
Logan County1–21–2—2
McPherson County1–21–2—1
Nemaha County1–21–2—15
Pawnee County1–21–2—8
Phelps County1–21–2—20
Sherman County1–21–2—7

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am4%
1am3.2%
2am3.2%
3am0.8%
4am0%
5am1.2%
6am3.6%
7am4%
8am2.4%
9am4.8%
10am4.4%
11am5.2%
12pm3.2%
1pm4.8%
2pm4.4%
3pm5.6%
4pm7.9%
5pm7.1%
6pm6.3%
7pm5.6%
8pm4.4%
9pm4.8%
10pm4.8%
11pm4.8%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday14%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday13%
Thursday15%
Friday17%
Saturday13%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Nebraska in 1997?

302 people in 261 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1997 file.

Which county in Nebraska had the most crash deaths in 1997?

Douglas County with 36 deaths in 34 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1997 compare with 1996 in Nebraska?

302 deaths against 293 in 1996 (+3%). Nationally the 1997 total was 42,013.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1997 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.