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1987

Wisconsin · year

Wisconsin in 1987

Deaths 797Fatal crashes 711Per 100,000 —US deaths 46,390

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 1987.

In 1987, 797 people died in 711 fatal crashes in Wisconsin.

The death toll rose 7% from 747 in 1986 to 797 in 1987.

Wisconsin accounted for 1.7% of the 46,390 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

46.3% 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 1986 and the nation

MeasureWisconsin 1987Wisconsin 1986United States 1987
Deaths79774746,390
Fatal crashes71165141,438
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver46%51%42%

Counties in 1987

Every county with a fatal crash in 1987, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 71 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Milwaukee County72778.3861
Dane County40457.6352
Waukesha County28317.4207
Dodge County263135.0127
Kenosha County262716.0149
Racine County242613.1171
Brown County22269.5154
Portage County212534.756
Washington County181913.799
Marathon County161913.7119
Waupaca County131835.275
Winnebago County17179.8108
Columbia County141729.3114
Rock County141710.3210
Outagamie County15168.2131
Walworth County141615.1140
Marinette County131535.465
Oconto County131537.590
Shawano County141433.974
Barron County121429.973
Chippewa County121319.375
Douglas County91227.155
Polk County111124.098
Wood County111114.994
Sauk County101116.5107
Calumet County91120.539
Ozaukee County91111.754
Grant County81121.073
Waushara County81143.953
Green County71129.649
Fond du Lac County998.6119
La Crosse County997.468
Richland County9952.625
St. Croix County999.297
Eau Claire County698.366
Pierce County8818.448
Door County7826.237
Oneida County7821.056
Taylor County7839.729
Trempealeau County5722.732
Clark County6617.274
Forest County6663.117
Lafayette County6634.728
Sheboygan County665.199
Vilas County6625.138
Lincoln County5621.159
Burnett County5529.146
Manitowoc County556.191
Washburn County5529.425
Adams County4523.449
Iowa County4520.940
Kewaunee County4524.114
Bayfield County4423.836
Jefferson County444.696
Juneau County4415.065
Rusk County3428.234
Buffalo County3322.329
Langlade County3315.426
Menominee County3370.011
Price County3321.326
Vernon County339.640
Sawyer County1–2315.940
Crawford County1–21–2—30
Dunn County1–21–2—66
Green Lake County1–21–2—16
Iron County1–21–2—22
Monroe County1–21–2—70
Ashland County1–21–2—22
Jackson County1–21–2—45
Marquette County1–21–2—28
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

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

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday12%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday10%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Wisconsin in 1987?

797 people in 711 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1987 file.

Which county in Wisconsin had the most crash deaths in 1987?

Milwaukee County with 77 deaths in 72 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1987 compare with 1986 in Wisconsin?

797 deaths against 747 in 1986 (+7%). Nationally the 1987 total was 46,390.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1987 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.