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1988

Oklahoma · year

Oklahoma in 1988

Deaths 638Fatal crashes 561Per 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, 638 people died in 561 fatal crashes in Oklahoma.

The death toll rose 7% from 597 in 1987 to 638 in 1988.

Oklahoma accounted for 1.4% 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.

34% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1987 and the nation

MeasureOklahoma 1988Oklahoma 1987United States 1988
Deaths63859747,087
Fatal crashes56154042,130
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver38%33%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. 72 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Oklahoma County828810.8913
Tulsa County51578.2792
Pottawatomie County161925.5155
Comanche County171814.8116
Creek County151824.3147
Wagoner County151617.5106
McCurtain County131651.9129
Ottawa County151549.3117
Cleveland County14154.9240
McClain County121531.0119
Le Flore County121428.1136
Rogers County121413.8150
Latimer County913136.726
Beckham County111253.967
Adair County111155.557
Cherokee County91122.686
Blaine County611128.336
Bryan County101019.9125
Payne County81011.9135
Delaware County71023.982
Canadian County995.0179
Custer County8931.859
Grady County8915.4135
Kay County8818.484
Pittsburg County8818.4103
Washington County8814.853
Caddo County7830.486
Sequoyah County7819.777
Pontotoc County6820.989
Mayes County5819.9125
Kiowa County6784.826
Lincoln County6720.0108
Osage County6715.189
Craig County6641.427
Garvin County6622.983
Muskogee County669.0116
Murray County5643.644
Okmulgee County5616.270
Texas County5629.245
Nowata County3662.829
Carter County5510.298
Jackson County5520.437
Jefferson County5593.016
Seminole County5521.493
Haskell County4542.328
Woodward County4525.040
McIntosh County3525.467
Atoka County4427.454
Garfield County446.569
Johnston County4438.944
Logan County447.475
Pushmataha County4437.039
Pawnee County3424.842
Marshall County1–2424.841
Alfalfa County3352.516
Choctaw County3321.259
Harper County1–2393.521
Noble County1–2327.546
Washita County1–2327.734
Beaver County1–21–2—39
Grant County1–21–2—16
Major County1–21–2—41
Stephens County1–21–2—69
Tillman County1–21–2—13
Woods County1–21–2—10
Cimarron County1–21–2—23
Cotton County1–21–2—21
Dewey County1–21–2—24
Ellis County1–21–2—13
Kingfisher County1–21–2—46
Okfuskee County1–21–2—44
Roger Mills County1–21–2—12

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

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

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday11%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday12%
Thursday13%
Friday19%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Oklahoma in 1988?

638 people in 561 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1988 file.

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

Oklahoma County with 88 deaths in 82 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1988 compare with 1987 in Oklahoma?

638 deaths against 597 in 1987 (+7%). 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.