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1989

Ohio · year

Ohio in 1989

Deaths 1,772Fatal crashes 1,574Per 100,000 —US deaths 45,582

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 1989.

In 1989, 1,772 people died in 1,574 fatal crashes in Ohio.

The death toll was about level between 1988 (1,748) and 1989 (1,772).

Ohio accounted for 3.9% of the 45,582 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

33.7% 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 1988 and the nation

MeasureOhio 1989Ohio 1988United States 1989
Deaths1,7721,74845,582
Fatal crashes1,5741,58640,741
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver34%38%39%

Counties in 1989

Every county with a fatal crash in 1989, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 87 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Cuyahoga County1111219.8949
Franklin County83926.81,057
Hamilton County67748.8626
Montgomery County667113.2606
Lucas County616715.7420
Trumbull County525628.0182
Summit County47529.7405
Butler County485112.8295
Stark County424411.8301
Wood County363727.8174
Lorain County323711.5270
Mahoning County273615.9210
Portage County303320.1149
Clermont County262813.1186
Miami County202825.0125
Medina County232714.6122
Ashtabula County232525.8171
Greene County192514.5133
Warren County19259.8167
Delaware County172510.5159
Allen County222423.8122
Wayne County212420.6156
Erie County202331.1100
Lake County19229.5109
Fulton County182150.092
Columbiana County202020.088
Richland County192016.0128
Licking County191910.3221
Sandusky County161932.3100
Ashland County151936.275
Fairfield County151911.3148
Crawford County131945.642
Hancock County171824.0105
Huron County151830.976
Clark County171712.6183
Athens County141625.378
Geauga County141616.8122
Ottawa County131640.351
Preble County131639.295
Union County131622.364
Highland County131534.368
Gallia County111551.951
Pickaway County141422.5105
Tuscarawas County141415.2110
Logan County131430.477
Ross County131418.4116
Belmont County121421.668
Muskingum County121416.2120
Williams County121438.367
Henry County101347.270
Brown County121227.159
Hardin County111239.551
Jefferson County111218.846
Putnam County111235.128
Scioto County111216.7104
Marion County111116.994
Shelby County111122.978
Auglaize County91124.053
Defiance County91128.552
Guernsey County91128.867
Seneca County101018.367
Fayette County61034.763
Darke County9917.587
Van Wert County9931.243
Washington County9915.471
Holmes County8920.153
Knox County8914.171
Morgan County8966.539
Morrow County8925.182
Perry County7822.458
Mercer County6818.868
Clinton County7716.778
Coshocton County6718.966
Madison County6613.276
Pike County6622.254
Wyandot County4628.037
Carroll County5518.942
Jackson County5515.360
Vinton County5539.935
Harrison County4535.646
Noble County3535.035
Adams County4414.551
Hocking County4414.649
Lawrence County447.250
Meigs County4418.651
Paulding County4421.329
Champaign County1–21–2—66

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

12am4.1%
1am5%
2am6.9%
3am3.2%
4am1.5%
5am2.2%
6am2.1%
7am3.4%
8am3.1%
9am2.2%
10am2.2%
11am3.4%
12pm3.8%
1pm3.7%
2pm5.6%
3pm5.7%
4pm4.7%
5pm5.1%
6pm4.9%
7pm5.9%
8pm4.5%
9pm5%
10pm6.4%
11pm5.5%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday11%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday12%
Thursday14%
Friday18%
Saturday19%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Ohio in 1989?

1,772 people in 1,574 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1989 file.

Which county in Ohio had the most crash deaths in 1989?

Cuyahoga County with 121 deaths in 111 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1989 compare with 1988 in Ohio?

1,772 deaths against 1,748 in 1988 (+1%). Nationally the 1989 total was 45,582.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1989 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.