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1998

Pennsylvania · year

Pennsylvania in 1998

Deaths 1,481Fatal crashes 1,354Per 100,000 —US deaths 41,501

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 1998.

In 1998, 1,481 people died in 1,354 fatal crashes in Pennsylvania.

The death toll fell 5% from 1,557 in 1997 to 1,481 in 1998.

Pennsylvania accounted for 3.6% of the 41,501 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

34.3% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

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

Compared with 1997 and the nation

MeasurePennsylvania 1998Pennsylvania 1997United States 1998
Deaths1,4811,55741,501
Fatal crashes1,3541,41237,107
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver34%31%30%

Counties in 1998

Every county with a fatal crash in 1998, 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
Philadelphia County961046.61,196
Allegheny County72786.3686
Montgomery County62697.8420
Lancaster County49559.8503
Berks County515412.3440
Bucks County50528.0513
Chester County45488.6319
York County40469.8377
Westmoreland County424512.8349
Lehigh County374210.9296
Delaware County37406.8264
Fayette County344032.3212
Erie County333914.6262
Lackawanna County303214.8200
Schuylkill County283222.1208
Luzerne County29309.1313
Franklin County222817.6207
Monroe County262716.2221
Somerset County242737.4112
Dauphin County26268.9295
Northampton County25268.0213
Butler County252512.5182
Huntingdon County162353.062
Lawrence County182226.197
Indiana County212125.3116
Northumberland County202123.3103
Lebanon County182114.5190
Centre County162012.5129
Mercer County181917.6135
Cambria County181813.8108
Cumberland County18186.5199
Blair County161815.0123
Carbon County151725.9106
Adams County141715.8125
Beaver County16169.7117
Washington County16167.6234
Crawford County151619.5121
Clearfield County131620.5138
Pike County141422.478
Wayne County141427.286
Lycoming County131412.4139
Clarion County121335.360
Armstrong County121218.894
McKean County111127.956
Susquehanna County101128.995
Elk County101033.237
Fulton County101069.244
Venango County101020.271
Clinton County91026.469
Warren County91026.855
Bedford County7918.990
Perry County7715.079
Wyoming County7727.238
Jefferson County6613.857
Snyder County6615.154
Columbia County469.179
Tioga County5512.368
Greene County3514.757
Union County3511.947
Bradford County446.7113
Montour County4422.132
Juniata County3417.142
Mifflin County336.556
Potter County3318.830
Cameron County1–21–2—8
Forest County1–21–2—14

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

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

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday12%
Tuesday14%
Wednesday13%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday17%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Pennsylvania in 1998?

1,481 people in 1,354 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1998 file.

Which county in Pennsylvania had the most crash deaths in 1998?

Philadelphia County with 104 deaths in 96 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1998 compare with 1997 in Pennsylvania?

1,481 deaths against 1,557 in 1997 (+-5%). Nationally the 1998 total was 41,501.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1998 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.