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1988

Ohio · year

Ohio in 1988

Deaths 1,748Fatal crashes 1,586Per 100,000 —US deaths 47,087

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 1988.

In 1988, 1,748 people died in 1,586 fatal crashes in Ohio.

The death toll was about level between 1987 (1,772) and 1988 (1,748).

Ohio accounted for 3.7% of the 47,087 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

37.6% 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 1987 and the nation

MeasureOhio 1988Ohio 1987United States 1988
Deaths1,7481,77247,087
Fatal crashes1,5861,58842,130
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver38%41%40%

Counties in 1988

Every county with a fatal crash in 1988, 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 County11912610.2949
Franklin County1021148.41,057
Hamilton County74759.0626
Montgomery County626812.7606
Lucas County616715.7420
Stark County546116.3301
Mahoning County495423.9210
Summit County46519.5405
Butler County444711.8295
Clermont County434722.0186
Trumbull County384422.0182
Lorain County314213.0270
Licking County323619.5221
Portage County323320.1149
Medina County272915.7122
Ashtabula County282828.9171
Wood County242619.5174
Richland County222620.8128
Warren County21249.4167
Lake County202410.3109
Muskingum County212326.6120
Allen County152221.8122
Miami County202118.8125
Clark County192115.6183
Hancock County192128.0105
Tuscarawas County192021.7110
Columbiana County162020.088
Geauga County191919.9122
Pickaway County171829.0105
Fulton County161842.892
Fairfield County141810.7148
Delaware County17177.1159
Ross County171722.4116
Erie County141723.0100
Belmont County121726.368
Fayette County131552.163
Huron County131525.876
Greene County14148.1133
Wyandot County131465.437
Ashland County131324.875
Darke County131325.387
Seneca County131323.867
Morrow County121336.282
Guernsey County111334.067
Wayne County111311.1156
Williams County111335.667
Logan County111123.977
Ottawa County101127.751
Paulding County101158.729
Putnam County101132.228
Sandusky County101118.7100
Henry County101036.370
Auglaize County91021.853
Defiance County61025.952
Crawford County9921.642
Jefferson County9914.146
Mercer County9921.168
Pike County9933.354
Knox County8914.171
Champaign County7923.166
Hardin County6929.651
Madison County7817.676
Hocking County7725.549
Holmes County7715.753
Scioto County779.7104
Athens County6711.178
Union County679.864
Van Wert County6724.243
Adams County5725.351
Coshocton County5718.966
Brown County6613.559
Lawrence County6610.750
Marion County669.294
Meigs County6627.951
Shelby County6612.578
Noble County5535.035
Preble County5512.395
Carroll County4415.142
Clinton County449.578
Gallia County4413.851
Harrison County4428.546
Washington County446.971
Highland County336.968
Monroe County3323.026
Perry County338.458
Jackson County1–21–2—60
Morgan County1–21–2—39
Vinton 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

12am5.3%
1am5.5%
2am7.6%
3am3%
4am1.7%
5am1.3%
6am2.6%
7am2.8%
8am3.2%
9am2.8%
10am2.6%
11am2.4%
12pm3%
1pm3.5%
2pm3.8%
3pm5%
4pm6.4%
5pm5.5%
6pm4.6%
7pm5.8%
8pm5.8%
9pm5.8%
10pm4.9%
11pm5.1%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday14%
Friday15%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Ohio in 1988?

1,748 people in 1,586 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1988 file.

Which county in Ohio had the most crash deaths in 1988?

Cuyahoga County with 126 deaths in 119 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1988 compare with 1987 in Ohio?

1,748 deaths against 1,772 in 1987 (+-1%). Nationally the 1988 total was 47,087.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1988 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.