Fatal crashes in Cook County, Illinois
In 2024, 362 people died in 333 fatal crashes in Cook County, Illinois, 4.0% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 3,087 fatal crashes and 3,325 deaths, the most of any county in Illinois.
7 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois in 2024; 6.4 against 9 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 5,182,617, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths in Cook County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 333 | 362 |
| 2023 | 357 | 377 |
| 2022 | 365 | 399 |
| 2021 | 419 | 458 |
| 2020 | 339 | 371 |
| 2019 | 285 | 295 |
| 2018 | 248 | 268 |
| 2017 | 265 | 288 |
| 2016 | 255 | 268 |
| 2015 | 221 | 239 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Cook County
I-94 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Cook County from 2015 to 2024: 132, with 140 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 32% of all fatal crashes in Cook County from 2015 to 2024; 6 are interstates, 3 US routes, 6 state highways. 41% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 59% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-94 | 132 | 140 | 48 | |
| 2 | State Highway 50 | 88 | 89 | 36 | |
| 3 | State Highway 83 | 77 | 82 | 24 | |
| 4 | I-90 | 76 | 78 | 37 | |
| 5 | I-57 | 71 | 80 | 28 | |
| 6 | I-290 | 66 | 79 | 19 | |
| 7 | I-294 | 66 | 67 | 20 | |
| 8 | State Highway 43 | 65 | 73 | 21 | |
| 9 | US 12 | 65 | 72 | 20 | |
| 10 | US 41 | 64 | 71 | 22 | |
| 11 | State Highway 1 | 48 | 56 | 21 | |
| 12 | I-55 | 47 | 54 | 18 | |
| 13 | US 30 | 43 | 47 | 18 | |
| 14 | State Highway 171 | 34 | 37 | 13 | |
| 15 | State Highway 64 | 33 | 34 | 8 |
Chicago had 45% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 1,388 of 3,087.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Chicago 1,388, Harvey 63, Des Plaines 35, Dolton 29, South Holland 27, Skokie 25, Melrose Park 23, Oak Lawn 23. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Cook County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 196 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 10 pm to 11 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 6.4 percent, 196 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 87 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 66 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 90 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 105 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 3.0 percent, 91 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 52 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 76 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 81 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 80 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.7 percent, 53 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 41 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 41 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 47 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 63 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 68 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.8 percent, 54 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 53 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 37 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 62 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 76 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 81 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.8 percent, 54 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 41 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 66 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 83 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 112 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.3 percent, 70 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 41 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 72 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 77 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 132 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.6 percent, 143 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 69 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 53 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 69 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 71 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 142 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.0%
- Feb6.8%
- Mar6.8%
- Apr7.0%
- May8.9%
- Jun9.5%
- Jul10.4%
- Aug9.2%
- Sep9.7%
- Oct8.5%
- Nov8.2%
- Dec8.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Cook County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 37%; a pedestrian in 28%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 23%, a cyclist in 4.3%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 1,128 | 37% |
| Pedestrian | 866 | 28% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 705 | 23% |
| Cyclist | 133 | 4.3% |
| Other | 123 | 4.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 94 | 3.0% |
| Rollover | 38 | 1.2% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Cook County compare with Illinois
The largest difference from Illinois: from 2015 to 2024, 0.8% of fatal crashes in Cook County were on rural roads, against 34% across Illinois. Also above the Illinois share: intersections, speeding, distracted drivers, unbelted occupants, hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Below it: unlit roads at night, drinking drivers and motorcycles. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Illinois. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 3,087 crashes.
| Cook | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 0.8% | 34% | below the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 37% | 30% | above the Illinois share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 12% | 25% | below the Illinois share |
| A drinking driver | 18% | 27% | below the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 39% | 37% | above the Illinois share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 18% | 9.8% | above the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 48% | 46% | above the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 17% | 8.4% | above the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 11% | 14% | below the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 28% | 16% | above the Illinois share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in Cook County, Illinois
- How many people died in car accidents in Cook County in 2024?
- 362 people died in 333 fatal crashes in Cook County, Illinois, in 2024, 4.0% fewer than in 2023. That is 7 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Cook County?
- I-94 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Cook County from 2015 to 2024: 132, with 140 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Cook County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 196 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Cook County involved a drinking driver?
- 549 of 3,087 fatal crashes in Cook County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 18%, against 27% across Illinois.
Other counties in Illinois with a page
- Will County
- Lake County
- DuPage County
- St. Clair County
- Madison County
- Kane County
- Winnebago County
- Sangamon County
- McHenry County
- LaSalle County
- Peoria County
- Kankakee County
All fatal crashes in Illinois, with every county ranked.
Where the Cook County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Cook County (county code 31). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/illinois/cook-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”