US 51 in Illinois: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 68 fatal crashes on US 51 in Illinois killed 74 people, the 21st most of 212 numbered roads in Illinois. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 8 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 13 counties of Illinois. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths on US 51 in Illinois by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 8 |
| 2023 | 9 | 9 |
| 2022 | 8 | 9 |
| 2021 | 4 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2017 | 7 | 8 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 51 in Illinois: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Jackson County had the most fatal crashes on US 51 from 2015 to 2024: 12, with 13 deaths. Jackson, McLean and Macon counties together held 47% of fatal crashes on US 51 in Illinois from 2015 to 2024; the 8 listed held 85%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson County | 0 | 12 | 13 |
| 2 | McLean County | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| 3 | Macon County | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| 4 | Shelby County | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | Union County | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | Washington County | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | Fayette County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 8 | Marion County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
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 US 51 in Illinois
68 fatal crashes on US 51 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 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is March.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 8.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 7.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.9%
- Feb4.4%
- Mar10.3%
- Apr8.8%
- May10.3%
- Jun8.8%
- Jul10.3%
- Aug7.4%
- Sep10.3%
- Oct7.4%
- Nov10.3%
- Dec5.9%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 51 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 25%, a pedestrian in 12%, a rollover in 4.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 36 | 53% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 17 | 25% |
| Pedestrian | 8 | 12% |
| Other | 4 | 5.9% |
| Rollover | 3 | 4.4% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 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 US 51 in Illinois compare with the state
The largest difference from Illinois: from 2015 to 2024, 60% of fatal crashes on US 51 in Illinois were on rural roads, against 34% across Illinois. Below the Illinois share: speeding. 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 68 crashes.
| US 51 | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 60% | 34% | above the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 34% | 30% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 25% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A drinking driver | 25% | 27% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 22% | 37% | below the Illinois share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.4% | 9.8% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 50% | 46% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.4% | 8.4% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 14% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 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 US 51 in Illinois
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 51 in Illinois?
- 68 fatal crashes killed 74 people on US 51 in Illinois from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 8 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 51 in Illinois do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Jackson County had the most fatal crashes on US 51 from 2015 to 2024: 12, with 13 deaths. McLean County was second with 11.
Other roads in Illinois with a page
All fatal crashes in Illinois, with every road ranked.
Where the US 51 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 51 in Illinois (filed under 20 spellings, such as "US-51", "US-51 (BLOOMINGTON RD)", "US-51 (ELM ST)", "US-51 BROADWAY ST"). 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.