Fatal Roads

States › Ohio › 2021

2021

Ohio · year

Ohio in 2021

Deaths 1,354Fatal crashes 1,242Per 100,000 11.5US deaths 43,230

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 2021.

In 2021, 1,354 people died in 1,242 fatal crashes in Ohio, 11.5 deaths per 100,000 residents against 13.0 nationally.

The death toll rose 10% from 1,230 in 2020 to 1,354 in 2021.

Ohio accounted for 3.1% of the 43,230 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

32.3% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on minor arterial roads (23%).

35% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Friday was the most common day.

← 202020212022 →All years

Compared with 2020 and the nation

MeasureOhio 2021Ohio 2020United States 2021
Deaths1,3541,23043,230
Fatal crashes1,2421,15439,785
Deaths per 100,000 residents11.510.413.0
Crashes with a drinking driver32%34%26%

Counties in 2021

Every county with a fatal crash in 2021, 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 County12112910.4949
Franklin County1171259.21,057
Montgomery County617413.8606
Hamilton County65728.6626
Lucas County535412.7420
Summit County42488.9405
Lorain County353912.1270
Stark County333910.4301
Butler County33358.8295
Trumbull County272914.5182
Geauga County232829.4122
Licking County242513.5221
Allen County232524.8122
Clark County222317.0183
Mahoning County21219.3210
Fairfield County172112.5148
Miami County192017.9125
Wayne County161916.3156
Clermont County17188.4186
Portage County161710.4149
Ashtabula County151616.5171
Columbiana County141515.088
Medina County14158.1122
Richland County141411.2128
Ross County121317.1116
Tuscarawas County111314.1110
Wood County11139.8174
Athens County121219.078
Muskingum County121213.9120
Delaware County9125.0159
Erie County91114.9100
Champaign County81128.366
Marion County101015.494
Pickaway County101016.1105
Jackson County91030.660
Ashland County9917.275
Clinton County9921.478
Defiance County9923.352
Greene County995.2133
Hancock County9912.0105
Coshocton County8924.366
Darke County8917.587
Highland County8920.668
Holmes County8817.953
Belmont County7812.468
Warren County783.1167
Williams County7821.967
Guernsey County7718.367
Morrow County7719.582
Scioto County779.7104
Adams County6725.351
Gallia County6724.251
Putnam County6720.528
Washington County6712.071
Wyandot County6732.737
Auglaize County6613.153
Crawford County6614.442
Hardin County6619.751
Lake County662.6109
Lawrence County6610.750
Mercer County6614.168
Perry County6616.858
Paulding County5632.029
Henry County5518.270
Hocking County5518.249
Knox County557.871
Logan County5510.877
Meigs County5523.351
Noble County5535.035
Union County557.064
Brown County4511.359
Jefferson County457.846
Carroll County4415.142
Fayette County4413.963
Harrison County4428.546
Pike County4414.854
Seneca County447.367
Vinton County4431.935
Fulton County349.592
Huron County346.976
Sandusky County346.8100
Shelby County1–248.378
Morgan County3322.239
Preble County337.495
Madison County1–21–2—76
Ottawa County1–21–2—51
Van Wert County1–21–2—43
Monroe County1–21–2—26

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

12am3.2%
1am4.5%
2am3.9%
3am3.2%
4am2.2%
5am2.5%
6am2.3%
7am2.8%
8am3.1%
9am1.9%
10am3.7%
11am3.2%
12pm3.8%
1pm4.7%
2pm4.1%
3pm5.8%
4pm5%
5pm4.7%
6pm7.3%
7pm5.4%
8pm5.1%
9pm6.8%
10pm5.4%
11pm5.5%

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday13%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday12%
Thursday13%
Friday18%
Saturday18%

Road type

Minor arterial23%
Major collector23%
Other principal arterial20%
Local16%
Interstate11%
Minor collector4%
Other freeways and expressways2%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Ohio in 2021?

1,354 people in 1,242 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2021 file, or 11.5 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Ohio had the most crash deaths in 2021?

Cuyahoga County with 129 deaths in 121 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2021 compare with 2020 in Ohio?

1,354 deaths against 1,230 in 2020 (+10%). Nationally the 2021 total was 43,230.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2021 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.