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1985

Ohio · year

Ohio in 1985

Deaths 1,646Fatal crashes 1,480Per 100,000 —US deaths 43,825

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 1985.

In 1985, 1,646 people died in 1,480 fatal crashes in Ohio.

The death toll was about level between 1984 (1,646) and 1985 (1,646).

Ohio accounted for 3.8% of the 43,825 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

43.4% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

32% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1984 and the nation

MeasureOhio 1985Ohio 1984United States 1985
Deaths1,6461,64643,825
Fatal crashes1,4801,47939,196
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver43%44%40%

Counties in 1985

Every county with a fatal crash in 1985, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 88 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Cuyahoga County14815412.4949
Franklin County81866.31,057
Hamilton County76839.9626
Summit County727614.1405
Lucas County546214.5420
Montgomery County516111.4606
Stark County515314.2301
Butler County404912.3295
Mahoning County353716.4210
Lake County313515.1109
Lorain County303410.6270
Wood County253324.8174
Portage County293219.5149
Ashtabula County283031.0171
Trumbull County283015.0182
Wayne County242723.1156
Licking County212714.6221
Richland County232620.8128
Clermont County212411.2186
Delaware County19239.7159
Warren County20218.2167
Columbiana County192020.088
Sandusky County162034.0100
Medina County18189.7122
Greene County161810.4133
Miami County151816.1125
Seneca County151832.967
Clark County161712.6183
Erie County161723.0100
Henry County141658.170
Allen County131615.9122
Ross County121621.0116
Geauga County151515.7122
Hancock County151520.0105
Muskingum County151517.3120
Ashland County131426.775
Ottawa County111435.351
Tuscarawas County111314.1110
Fairfield County12127.2148
Brown County111227.159
Pickaway County111219.3105
Williams County101232.867
Putnam County91235.128
Logan County101123.977
Coshocton County91129.766
Huron County71118.976
Mercer County61125.868
Fulton County51023.892
Lawrence County9916.150
Marion County9913.994
Darke County8917.587
Jackson County8927.560
Knox County7914.171
Athens County8812.778
Belmont County8812.468
Champaign County8820.666
Preble County8819.695
Scioto County8811.1104
Auglaize County7817.453
Crawford County7819.242
Holmes County6817.953
Pike County6829.654
Fayette County7724.363
Hardin County7723.051
Highland County7716.068
Union County779.864
Clinton County6716.778
Monroe County6753.626
Paulding County5737.329
Carroll County6622.742
Gallia County6620.851
Guernsey County6615.767
Jefferson County669.446
Madison County6613.276
Washington County5610.371
Defiance County5512.952
Hocking County5518.249
Van Wert County5517.343
Shelby County4510.478
Adams County4414.551
Perry County4411.258
Vinton County4431.935
Harrison County3321.446
Meigs County3314.051
Wyandot County3314.037
Morgan County1–21–2—39
Morrow County1–21–2—82
Noble County1–21–2—35

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

12am5.1%
1am4.3%
2am8.2%
3am4.2%
4am2.8%
5am1.4%
6am2.7%
7am2.8%
8am2.3%
9am2.2%
10am2.2%
11am3.4%
12pm3.3%
1pm3.3%
2pm3.9%
3pm5.5%
4pm4.1%
5pm5.9%
6pm4.5%
7pm5.7%
8pm4.7%
9pm5.7%
10pm5.4%
11pm6.3%

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday12%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday13%
Thursday12%
Friday16%
Saturday21%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Ohio in 1985?

1,646 people in 1,480 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1985 file.

Which county in Ohio had the most crash deaths in 1985?

Cuyahoga County with 154 deaths in 148 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1985 compare with 1984 in Ohio?

1,646 deaths against 1,646 in 1984 (0%). Nationally the 1985 total was 43,825.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1985 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.