I-294 in Illinois: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 66 fatal crashes on I-294 in Illinois killed 67 people, the 24th most of 212 numbered roads in Illinois. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 6 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 1 county of Illinois. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths on I-294 in Illinois by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 6 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | 10 | 10 |
| 2021 | 7 | 7 |
| 2020 | 7 | 7 |
| 2019 | 9 | 9 |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 |
| 2017 | 8 | 8 |
| 2016 | 7 | 7 |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-294 in Illinois: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Cook County had the most fatal crashes on I-294 from 2015 to 2024: 66, with 67 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cook County | 5 | 66 | 67 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on I-294 in Illinois
66 fatal crashes on I-294 in Illinois from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 2 am to 3 am; 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 | 10.6 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 6.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 9.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan10.6%
- Feb7.6%
- Mar4.5%
- Apr10.6%
- May9.1%
- Jun10.6%
- Jul12.1%
- Aug7.6%
- Sep7.6%
- Oct6.1%
- Nov4.5%
- Dec9.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on I-294 in Illinois first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 53%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 18%, a pedestrian in 9.1%, a parked vehicle in 6.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 35 | 53% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 12 | 18% |
| Other | 8 | 12% |
| Pedestrian | 6 | 9.1% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 6.1% |
| Rollover | 1 | 1.5% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 on I-294 in Illinois compare with the state
The largest difference from Illinois: from 2015 to 2024, 0.0% of fatal crashes on I-294 in Illinois were on rural roads, against 34% across Illinois. Also above the Illinois share: speeding. Below it: intersections, unlit roads at night 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 66 crashes.
| I-294 | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 0.0% | 34% | below the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.0% | 30% | below the Illinois share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 12% | 25% | below the Illinois share |
| A drinking driver | 27% | 27% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 53% | 37% | above the Illinois share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.6% | 9.8% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 42% | 46% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.5% | 8.4% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 1.5% | 14% | below the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 15% | 16% | about the same as 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 on I-294 in Illinois
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-294 in Illinois?
- 66 fatal crashes killed 67 people on I-294 in Illinois from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 6 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on I-294 in Illinois do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Cook County had the most fatal crashes on I-294 from 2015 to 2024: 66, with 67 deaths.
Other roads in Illinois with a page
All fatal crashes in Illinois, with every road ranked.
Where the I-294 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-294 in Illinois (filed under 14 spellings, such as "I- 294", "I-294", "I-294 TRI STATE TOLLWAY", "I-294 TRI-STATE TOLLWAY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.