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1985

Pennsylvania · year

Pennsylvania in 1985

Deaths 1,771Fatal crashes 1,580Per 100,000 —US deaths 43,825

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 1985.

In 1985, 1,771 people died in 1,580 fatal crashes in Pennsylvania.

The death toll was about level between 1984 (1,727) and 1985 (1,771).

Pennsylvania accounted for 4% of the 43,825 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

43.4% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

← 198419851986 →All years

Compared with 1984 and the nation

MeasurePennsylvania 1985Pennsylvania 1984United States 1985
Deaths1,7711,72743,825
Fatal crashes1,5801,56239,196
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver43%33%40%

Counties in 1985

Every county with a fatal crash in 1985, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 66 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Allegheny County12113210.7686
Philadelphia County1061187.51,196
Bucks County849514.6513
Montgomery County77829.3420
Westmoreland County657521.4349
Chester County636912.3319
Berks County626915.7440
Lancaster County525910.5503
Delaware County51589.9264
Erie County464817.9262
Luzerne County464714.2313
York County38439.1377
Cumberland County353713.4199
Lehigh County33369.3296
Dauphin County323612.3295
Monroe County263219.2221
Schuylkill County273121.4208
Washington County273114.7234
Lackawanna County272913.4200
Butler County262713.5182
Northampton County25268.0213
Adams County212321.3125
Indiana County182327.7116
Bradford County172338.5113
Mercer County192220.3135
Centre County182213.8129
Northumberland County192123.3103
Lycoming County172118.5139
Columbia County202030.379
Lebanon County192013.8190
Crawford County172024.4121
Fayette County161915.3212
Clearfield County171823.0138
Franklin County171811.3207
Beaver County161810.9117
Cambria County171713.1108
Somerset County161723.6112
McKean County141743.156
Venango County141734.471
Huntingdon County141636.962
Warren County121642.855
Lawrence County131517.897
Tioga County111434.468
Perry County101429.979
Bedford County121327.390
Wayne County101223.386
Blair County10119.1123
Pike County101117.678
Union County91126.147
Clinton County101026.469
Clarion County81027.160
Juniata County81042.742
Elk County6929.937
Snyder County8820.254
Mifflin County6817.456
Armstrong County7711.094
Carbon County7710.6106
Greene County5617.757
Susquehanna County4615.795
Jefferson County5511.557
Fulton County3534.644
Montour County4422.132
Wyoming County4415.538
Cameron County1–21–2—8
Forest County1–21–2—14
Sullivan County1–21–2—11

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

12am5.3%
1am5.9%
2am7%
3am4.9%
4am3%
5am1.5%
6am3.4%
7am2.7%
8am1.9%
9am2.5%
10am2.2%
11am3%
12pm3.1%
1pm3.5%
2pm3%
3pm6.4%
4pm4.6%
5pm4.9%
6pm5.5%
7pm4.8%
8pm4.9%
9pm5%
10pm4.9%
11pm6.3%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday11%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday13%
Thursday12%
Friday17%
Saturday21%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Pennsylvania in 1985?

1,771 people in 1,580 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1985 file.

Which county in Pennsylvania had the most crash deaths in 1985?

Allegheny County with 132 deaths in 121 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1985 compare with 1984 in Pennsylvania?

1,771 deaths against 1,727 in 1984 (+3%). Nationally the 1985 total was 43,825.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1985 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.