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1986

Wisconsin · year

Wisconsin in 1986

Deaths 747Fatal crashes 651Per 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, 747 people died in 651 fatal crashes in Wisconsin.

The death toll was about level between 1985 (744) and 1986 (747).

Wisconsin accounted for 1.6% of the 46,087 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

51% 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; Sunday was the most common day.

Compared with 1985 and the nation

MeasureWisconsin 1986Wisconsin 1985United States 1986
Deaths74774446,087
Fatal crashes65166641,090
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver51%50%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. 69 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Milwaukee County68727.8861
Dane County43508.5352
Waukesha County33358.4207
Racine County283115.6171
Kenosha County222514.8149
Washington County202518.099
Dodge County202427.1127
Rock County182313.9210
Fond du Lac County202221.1119
Walworth County202018.9140
Brown County16207.3154
Winnebago County161911.0108
Outagamie County15168.2131
Sheboygan County141613.599
St. Croix County131616.397
Waupaca County141529.375
Manitowoc County111518.491
Jefferson County91112.896
Lincoln County81138.659
Wood County81114.994
Sauk County101015.0107
Marathon County9107.2119
Columbia County8915.5114
Eau Claire County898.366
Jackson County7942.845
Douglas County4920.355
Door County8826.237
Portage County8811.156
Shawano County8819.474
La Crosse County786.668
Monroe County7817.370
Ozaukee County788.554
Rusk County7856.534
Washburn County4847.125
Dunn County7715.266
Green County7718.849
Oneida County7718.356
Pierce County7716.148
Grant County6713.473
Oconto County6717.590
Waushara County6727.953
Langlade County4735.826
Chippewa County568.975
Adams County4628.149
Clark County4617.274
Taylor County4629.829
Iowa County5520.940
Lafayette County5528.928
Marinette County5511.865
Polk County4510.998
Forest County4442.117
Sawyer County4421.240
Trempealeau County4413.032
Vernon County4412.840
Vilas County3416.738
Buffalo County3322.329
Crawford County3318.730
Green Lake County3315.516
Juneau County3311.365
Burnett County1–2317.546
Richland County1–2317.525
Barron County1–21–2—73
Kewaunee County1–21–2—14
Marquette County1–21–2—28
Price County1–21–2—26
Ashland County1–21–2—22
Bayfield County1–21–2—36
Calumet County1–21–2—39
Pepin County1–21–2—12

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

12am6%
1am7.4%
2am6.8%
3am2.2%
4am0.8%
5am1.7%
6am2%
7am3.5%
8am2%
9am3.1%
10am4%
11am2.6%
12pm1.9%
1pm3.7%
2pm3.7%
3pm6.2%
4pm6.9%
5pm4.8%
6pm6.3%
7pm4.6%
8pm5.2%
9pm2.9%
10pm4.9%
11pm6.6%

Weekday

Sunday19%
Monday12%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday8%
Thursday11%
Friday18%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Wisconsin in 1986?

747 people in 651 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1986 file.

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

Milwaukee County with 72 deaths in 68 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1986 compare with 1985 in Wisconsin?

747 deaths against 744 in 1985 (0%). 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.