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1989

Pennsylvania · year

Pennsylvania in 1989

Deaths 1,877Fatal crashes 1,714Per 100,000 —US deaths 45,582

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 1989.

In 1989, 1,877 people died in 1,714 fatal crashes in Pennsylvania.

The death toll was about level between 1988 (1,931) and 1989 (1,877).

Pennsylvania accounted for 4.1% of the 45,582 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

42.5% 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.

← 198819891990 →All years

Compared with 1988 and the nation

MeasurePennsylvania 1989Pennsylvania 1988United States 1989
Deaths1,8771,93145,582
Fatal crashes1,7141,77040,741
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver43%40%39%

Counties in 1989

Every county with a fatal crash in 1989, 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
Philadelphia County15516710.61,196
Allegheny County971058.5686
Montgomery County64748.4420
Berks County647216.4440
Bucks County657110.9513
Westmoreland County587019.9349
Lancaster County616311.2503
Chester County49549.6319
York County485311.2377
Luzerne County445015.1313
Delaware County45488.2264
Lehigh County404812.4296
Dauphin County394214.3295
Erie County354215.7262
Northampton County363912.1213
Schuylkill County343927.0208
Franklin County343622.6207
Butler County323618.1182
Monroe County323420.4221
Fayette County283024.2212
Washington County283014.3234
Cumberland County26279.8199
Northumberland County262730.0103
Lycoming County242623.0139
Warren County192669.655
Somerset County232534.7112
Blair County222520.8123
Mercer County212422.2135
Indiana County222327.7116
Lackawanna County222310.6200
Beaver County192313.9117
Centre County222213.8129
Adams County202220.4125
Crawford County192226.8121
Lebanon County162215.1190
Clearfield County212126.9138
Cambria County191914.6108
Greene County191955.957
Carbon County161725.9106
Perry County161736.379
Lawrence County161619.097
Snyder County141640.454
Bradford County141423.5113
Clarion County141438.060
Columbia County131421.279
McKean County121435.556
Susquehanna County131334.195
Mifflin County121226.156
Armstrong County111117.394
Union County101126.147
Clinton County101026.469
Venango County101020.271
Montour County91055.232
Huntingdon County9920.862
Pike County9914.478
Tioga County9922.168
Bedford County8918.990
Wayne County8917.586
Wyoming County6727.238
Fulton County6641.544
Juniata County6625.642
Elk County5516.637
Potter County4425.030
Sullivan County1–21–2—11
Cameron County1–21–2—8
Forest County1–21–2—14
Jefferson County1–21–2—57

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

12am4.3%
1am6.3%
2am6%
3am4.8%
4am2.3%
5am1.9%
6am2.6%
7am2.6%
8am2.5%
9am2.5%
10am3%
11am3.4%
12pm3.9%
1pm3.2%
2pm3.6%
3pm5%
4pm5.1%
5pm5.6%
6pm5.7%
7pm4.7%
8pm5.3%
9pm4.6%
10pm4.3%
11pm6.8%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday11%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday11%
Thursday12%
Friday16%
Saturday21%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Pennsylvania in 1989?

1,877 people in 1,714 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1989 file.

Which county in Pennsylvania had the most crash deaths in 1989?

Philadelphia County with 167 deaths in 155 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1989 compare with 1988 in Pennsylvania?

1,877 deaths against 1,931 in 1988 (+-3%). Nationally the 1989 total was 45,582.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1989 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.