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2003

Ohio · year

Ohio in 2003

Deaths 1,274Fatal crashes 1,165Per 100,000 11.1US deaths 42,884

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 2003.

In 2003, 1,274 people died in 1,165 fatal crashes in Ohio, 11.1 deaths per 100,000 residents against 14.8 nationally.

The death toll fell 10% from 1,418 in 2002 to 1,274 in 2003.

Ohio accounted for 3% of the 42,884 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

37.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

31% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 2002 and the nation

MeasureOhio 2003Ohio 2002United States 2003
Deaths1,2741,41842,884
Fatal crashes1,1651,28538,477
Deaths per 100,000 residents11.112.414.8
Crashes with a drinking driver37%39%35%

Counties in 2003

Every county with a fatal crash in 2003, 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 County74816.01,057
Hamilton County64698.2626
Cuyahoga County62695.6949
Montgomery County41499.1606
Summit County39407.4405
Stark County363910.4301
Lucas County31337.7420
Butler County29328.0295
Trumbull County242613.0182
Clark County232619.3183
Greene County222615.1133
Clermont County212612.1186
Lorain County22247.5270
Delaware County20218.8159
Columbiana County172020.088
Muskingum County172023.1120
Mahoning County18188.0210
Licking County17189.7221
Warren County17187.0167
Sandusky County151830.6100
Belmont County141827.868
Tuscarawas County131819.6110
Richland County171713.6128
Ashtabula County161717.5171
Fairfield County161710.1148
Miami County161715.2125
Portage County161710.4149
Clinton County151740.578
Scioto County161622.3104
Allen County141615.9122
Lake County14146.0109
Washington County141424.071
Medina County13137.0122
Huron County121322.376
Pickaway County121320.9105
Wood County12139.8174
Fulton County101330.992
Geauga County111212.6122
Seneca County111221.967
Darke County101121.487
Marion County101116.994
Hancock County101013.3105
Henry County101036.370
Wyandot County101046.737
Ashland County91019.175
Athens County91015.878
Erie County91013.5100
Highland County91022.868
Hocking County91036.549
Williams County81027.467
Paulding County71053.329
Knox County8914.171
Logan County8919.577
Lawrence County7916.150
Ross County7911.8116
Morrow County8822.382
Ottawa County8820.251
Preble County8819.695
Mercer County7716.468
Wayne County776.0156
Pike County6725.954
Defiance County6615.552
Gallia County6620.851
Hardin County6619.751
Holmes County6613.453
Union County568.464
Brown County5511.359
Crawford County5512.042
Shelby County5510.478
Adams County4414.551
Carroll County4415.142
Coshocton County4410.866
Fayette County4413.963
Jackson County4412.260
Jefferson County446.346
Madison County448.876
Meigs County4418.651
Perry County4411.258
Putnam County4411.728
Van Wert County4413.843
Vinton County4431.935
Auglaize County336.553
Champaign County337.766
Harrison County3321.446
Morgan County3322.239
Guernsey County1–21–2—67
Monroe County1–21–2—26
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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday11%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday13%
Thursday14%
Friday15%
Saturday19%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Ohio in 2003?

1,274 people in 1,165 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2003 file, or 11.1 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Ohio had the most crash deaths in 2003?

Franklin County with 81 deaths in 74 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2003 compare with 2002 in Ohio?

1,274 deaths against 1,418 in 2002 (+-10%). Nationally the 2003 total was 42,884.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2003 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.