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1986

Pennsylvania · year

Pennsylvania in 1986

Deaths 1,894Fatal crashes 1,710Per 100,000 —US deaths 46,087

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 1986.

In 1986, 1,894 people died in 1,710 fatal crashes in Pennsylvania.

The death toll rose 7% from 1,771 in 1985 to 1,894 in 1986.

Pennsylvania accounted for 4.1% of the 46,087 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

44.3% 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.

Compared with 1985 and the nation

MeasurePennsylvania 1986Pennsylvania 1985United States 1986
Deaths1,8941,77146,087
Fatal crashes1,7101,58041,090
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver44%43%43%

Counties in 1986

Every county with a fatal crash in 1986, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 67 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Allegheny County11412510.1686
Philadelphia County1161177.41,196
Bucks County869614.8513
Chester County808515.2319
Montgomery County69758.5420
Westmoreland County657320.8349
Lancaster County637012.4503
Berks County616514.8440
Delaware County565910.1264
Lehigh County515614.5296
York County535411.5377
Luzerne County515416.3313
Erie County394316.1262
Washington County373918.5234
Cumberland County293713.4199
Schuylkill County323423.5208
Dauphin County303411.6295
Franklin County303320.7207
Butler County273216.1182
Beaver County283118.7117
Fayette County273125.0212
Lackawanna County262812.9200
Centre County212515.6129
Tioga County182561.468
Monroe County242414.4221
Cambria County222418.4108
Bradford County202440.2113
Northampton County19226.8213
Carbon County172233.5106
Bedford County192144.190
Lebanon County182114.5190
Armstrong County172031.494
Crawford County172024.4121
Venango County181938.471
Adams County171917.6125
Northumberland County171921.1103
Snyder County161947.954
Lycoming County181815.9139
Indiana County141821.7116
Blair County161613.3123
Clearfield County131519.2138
Susquehanna County101539.495
Lawrence County141416.697
Somerset County131419.4112
Clarion County111438.060
McKean County101435.556
Mercer County121211.1135
Warren County101232.155
Columbia County81218.279
Jefferson County111125.457
Wayne County101019.486
Mifflin County91021.856
Wyoming County81038.838
Elk County71033.237
Huntingdon County9920.862
Greene County8926.557
Perry County8919.279
Clinton County8821.169
Pike County8812.878
Montour County4633.132
Fulton County4534.644
Sullivan County4584.411
Union County4511.947
Potter County4425.030
Juniata County1–2312.842
Forest County1–21–2—14
Cameron County1–21–2—8

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

12am7%
1am6.3%
2am6.6%
3am3.9%
4am2.2%
5am2.3%
6am1.8%
7am2.8%
8am2.6%
9am2.1%
10am2.5%
11am3.3%
12pm2.4%
1pm3.7%
2pm4.1%
3pm4.9%
4pm5.9%
5pm4.6%
6pm4.6%
7pm5.1%
8pm4.5%
9pm5.4%
10pm5%
11pm6.3%

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday11%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday12%
Friday18%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Pennsylvania in 1986?

1,894 people in 1,710 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1986 file.

Which county in Pennsylvania had the most crash deaths in 1986?

Allegheny County with 125 deaths in 114 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1986 compare with 1985 in Pennsylvania?

1,894 deaths against 1,771 in 1985 (+7%). Nationally the 1986 total was 46,087.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1986 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.