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1998

Ohio · year

Ohio in 1998

Deaths 1,422Fatal crashes 1,289Per 100,000 —US deaths 41,501

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 1998.

In 1998, 1,422 people died in 1,289 fatal crashes in Ohio.

The death toll was about level between 1997 (1,441) and 1998 (1,422).

Ohio accounted for 3.4% of the 41,501 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

28.6% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

Compared with 1997 and the nation

MeasureOhio 1998Ohio 1997United States 1998
Deaths1,4221,44141,501
Fatal crashes1,2891,27037,107
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver29%30%30%

Counties in 1998

Every county with a fatal crash in 1998, 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
Franklin County81926.81,057
Cuyahoga County86917.3949
Montgomery County515610.4606
Hamilton County45465.5626
Summit County40468.5405
Lucas County424510.6420
Stark County404111.0301
Butler County374010.0295
Trumbull County373919.5182
Lorain County30319.6270
Mahoning County283113.7210
Richland County232620.8128
Portage County222515.3149
Fairfield County222414.3148
Clermont County202411.2186
Ross County202228.9116
Licking County202111.4221
Sandusky County192034.0100
Delaware County19198.0159
Lake County19198.2109
Tuscarawas County191920.6110
Erie County171925.7100
Allen County131817.8122
Fayette County131862.563
Columbiana County161717.088
Huron County131729.276
Medina County15168.7122
Warren County15166.2167
Wayne County151613.7156
Muskingum County131618.5120
Wood County131612.0174
Miami County121614.3125
Pike County111659.154
Coshocton County141540.566
Scioto County121520.9104
Greene County13148.1133
Preble County131434.395
Knox County131320.471
Hancock County101317.3105
Clark County12128.9183
Ashtabula County111212.4171
Auglaize County111226.153
Fulton County101228.692
Darke County91223.387
Paulding County91264.029
Mercer County111125.868
Shelby County111122.978
Madison County101022.076
Seneca County101018.367
Washington County101017.171
Belmont County91015.568
Geauga County91010.5122
Williams County91027.467
Champaign County61025.766
Guernsey County9923.567
Jefferson County9914.146
Clinton County8921.478
Perry County6925.258
Athens County7812.778
Hocking County5829.249
Adams County7725.351
Ashland County7713.475
Brown County7715.859
Crawford County7716.842
Jackson County7721.460
Marion County7710.894
Pickaway County7711.3105
Putnam County7720.528
Defiance County6718.152
Henry County6725.470
Morrow County6719.582
Lawrence County6610.750
Union County668.464
Hardin County5619.751
Ottawa County5615.151
Highland County5511.468
Wyandot County5523.437
Carroll County4518.942
Harrison County4535.646
Logan County448.777
Vinton County4431.935
Holmes County336.753
Monroe County3323.026
Van Wert County3310.443
Gallia County1–21–2—51
Morgan County1–21–2—39
Meigs County1–21–2—51
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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday11%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday13%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Ohio in 1998?

1,422 people in 1,289 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1998 file.

Which county in Ohio had the most crash deaths in 1998?

Franklin County with 92 deaths in 81 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1998 compare with 1997 in Ohio?

1,422 deaths against 1,441 in 1997 (+-1%). Nationally the 1998 total was 41,501.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1998 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.