Fatal Roads

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2023

Wisconsin · year

Wisconsin in 2023

Deaths 586Fatal crashes 533Per 100,000 9.9US deaths 41,025

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 2023.

In 2023, 586 people died in 533 fatal crashes in Wisconsin, 9.9 deaths per 100,000 residents against 12.2 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2022 (604) and 2023 (586).

Wisconsin accounted for 1.4% of the 41,025 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

31.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on other principal arterial roads (32%).

34% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 2022 and the nation

MeasureWisconsin 2023Wisconsin 2022United States 2023
Deaths58660441,025
Fatal crashes53355637,769
Deaths per 100,000 residents9.910.212.2
Crashes with a drinking driver31%29%26%

Counties in 2023

Every county with a fatal crash in 2023, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 72 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Milwaukee County83929.9861
Dane County27294.9352
Waukesha County26276.5207
Fond du Lac County162019.2119
Racine County17189.1171
Washington County151611.599
Polk County131634.998
St. Croix County141515.397
Manitowoc County101417.291
Rock County13137.9210
Walworth County131312.3140
Brown County11124.4154
Winnebago County11126.9108
Kenosha County10116.5149
Dodge County81112.4127
Sauk County101015.0107
Jefferson County91011.696
Sheboygan County9108.599
Lincoln County8931.659
Marathon County885.8119
Outagamie County884.1131
Adams County7837.549
Eau Claire County787.466
Wood County7810.894
Waushara County6831.953
Green County7718.849
Iowa County7729.240
Marinette County7716.565
Oneida County6718.356
Barron County5715.073
Dunn County5715.266
Calumet County6611.239
Columbia County6610.3114
Douglas County6613.655
Grant County6611.573
Monroe County6612.970
Lafayette County5634.728
Sawyer County5631.940
Waupaca County3611.775
Burnett County5529.146
La Crosse County554.168
Chippewa County445.975
Clark County4411.574
Door County4413.137
Jackson County4419.045
Oconto County4410.090
Richland County4423.425
Shawano County449.774
Vernon County4412.840
Iron County3348.122
Pierce County336.948
Portage County334.256
Rusk County3321.234
Taylor County3314.929
Trempealeau County339.732
Vilas County3312.538
Buffalo County1–2322.329
Bayfield County1–21–2—36
Forest County1–21–2—17
Juneau County1–21–2—65
Langlade County1–21–2—26
Marquette County1–21–2—28
Menominee County1–21–2—11
Washburn County1–21–2—25
Pepin County1–21–2—12
Price County1–21–2—26
Ashland County1–21–2—22
Crawford County1–21–2—30
Florence County1–21–2—16
Green Lake County1–21–2—16
Kewaunee County1–21–2—14
Ozaukee County1–21–2—54

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

12am4.1%
1am2%
2am4.3%
3am2.2%
4am1.6%
5am1.8%
6am1.8%
7am2.5%
8am4.3%
9am2.5%
10am3.5%
11am2.9%
12pm4.9%
1pm4.3%
2pm5.7%
3pm5.5%
4pm5.5%
5pm6.7%
6pm7%
7pm7.4%
8pm5.3%
9pm6.1%
10pm4.3%
11pm3.9%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday9%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday14%
Thursday14%
Friday17%
Saturday19%

Road type

Other principal arterial32%
Minor arterial24%
Major collector16%
Local14%
Interstate7%
Other freeways and expressways4%
Minor collector3%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Wisconsin in 2023?

586 people in 533 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2023 file, or 9.9 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in Wisconsin had the most crash deaths in 2023?

Milwaukee County with 92 deaths in 83 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2023 compare with 2022 in Wisconsin?

586 deaths against 604 in 2022 (+-3%). Nationally the 2023 total was 41,025.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2023 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.