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1985

South Carolina · year

South Carolina in 1985

Deaths 951Fatal crashes 847Per 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, 951 people died in 847 fatal crashes in South Carolina.

The death toll was about level between 1984 (916) and 1985 (951).

South Carolina accounted for 2.2% of the 43,825 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

38.6% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

35% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1984 and the nation

MeasureSouth Carolina 1985South Carolina 1984United States 1985
Deaths95191643,825
Fatal crashes84782039,196
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver39%32%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. 46 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Horry County636916.7714
Richland County546013.9585
Charleston County536013.9682
Greenville County535910.3831
Spartanburg County475314.4672
Anderson County314319.8435
Berkeley County374215.9410
Lexington County323611.5501
Florence County293424.6349
York County293210.6338
Orangeburg County282934.9387
Aiken County252715.1321
Laurens County172738.3238
Dorchester County242514.3245
Beaufort County192411.9225
Sumter County202120.0234
Pickens County182115.2203
Lancaster County192017.9167
Fairfield County161888.4113
Cherokee County151729.4160
Marion County141759.9101
Jasper County151644.9178
Williamsburg County151550.2114
Colleton County121230.6215
Darlington County101219.2213
Newberry County101230.695
Georgetown County111116.7150
Kershaw County111115.3167
Oconee County111113.3142
Abbeville County91144.748
Clarendon County101032.2146
Hampton County9949.564
Chester County8927.8135
Calhoun County7963.267
Union County6830.071
Barnwell County7734.247
Dillon County7725.4112
Marlboro County7727.5103
Saluda County6736.042
Bamberg County6646.635
Greenwood County668.6124
Allendale County5566.228
Chesterfield County5511.2118
Lee County4425.164
McCormick County4440.132
Edgefield County3310.252

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

12am5.9%
1am4.7%
2am4%
3am3.7%
4am3%
5am2.4%
6am2.7%
7am3.2%
8am2.1%
9am2.7%
10am2.7%
11am3.3%
12pm2.4%
1pm3.9%
2pm4%
3pm4.9%
4pm4.3%
5pm5.2%
6pm5.6%
7pm5.9%
8pm5.9%
9pm5.3%
10pm6.8%
11pm5.2%

Weekday

Sunday15%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday12%
Friday15%
Saturday21%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Carolina in 1985?

951 people in 847 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1985 file.

Which county in South Carolina had the most crash deaths in 1985?

Horry County with 69 deaths in 63 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1985 compare with 1984 in South Carolina?

951 deaths against 916 in 1984 (+4%). 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.