Fatal crashes in Will County, Illinois
In 2024, 58 people died in 54 fatal crashes in Will County, Illinois, 38.1% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 508 fatal crashes and 563 deaths, the 2nd most of 102 counties in Illinois.
8.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois in 2024; 8.1 against 9 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 708,583, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths in Will County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 54 | 58 |
| 2023 | 36 | 42 |
| 2022 | 59 | 65 |
| 2021 | 60 | 70 |
| 2020 | 57 | 61 |
| 2019 | 54 | 54 |
| 2018 | 52 | 58 |
| 2017 | 47 | 59 |
| 2016 | 42 | 45 |
| 2015 | 47 | 51 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Will County
I-55 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Will County from 2015 to 2024: 60, with 65 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 50% of all fatal crashes in Will County from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 4 US routes, 7 state highways. 52% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 48% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-55 | 60 | 65 | 18 | |
| 2 | I-80 | 40 | 46 | 7 | |
| 3 | State Highway 53 | 26 | 28 | 7 | |
| 4 | US 30 | 23 | 25 | 9 | |
| 5 | US 52 | 16 | 20 | 3 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 171 | 13 | 15 | 4 | |
| 7 | State Highway 7 | 13 | 14 | 6 | no page |
| 8 | US 6 | 12 | 13 | 3 | |
| 9 | US 45 | 10 | 11 | 4 | |
| 10 | I-57 | 9 | 12 | 2 | |
| 11 | State Highway 1 | 8 | 10 | 1 | |
| 12 | State Highway 394 | 8 | 10 | 2 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 50 | 7 | 11 | 2 | |
| 14 | I-355 | 5 | 5 | 2 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 59 | 5 | 5 | 1 | no page |
Joliet had 15% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 77 of 508.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Joliet 77, Bolingbrook 26, Lockport 18, Romeoville 14, Crest Hill 13, Plainfield 11, Naperville 9, New Lenox 7. 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 Will County
The heaviest slot is Thursday, 4 to 8 pm, with 25 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.7 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 16 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 24 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.8 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.1%
- Feb6.1%
- Mar8.9%
- Apr6.1%
- May9.3%
- Jun9.8%
- Jul8.9%
- Aug10.0%
- Sep9.1%
- Oct9.3%
- Nov7.3%
- Dec8.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Will County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 50%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 26%, a pedestrian in 12%, a rollover in 5.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 254 | 50% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 130 | 26% |
| Pedestrian | 61 | 12% |
| Rollover | 29 | 5.7% |
| Other | 21 | 4.1% |
| Cyclist | 7 | 1.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 6 | 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 Will County compare with Illinois
The largest difference from Illinois: from 2015 to 2024, 13% of fatal crashes in Will County were on rural roads, against 34% across Illinois. Also above the Illinois share: speeding and motorcycles. Below it: distracted drivers, hit-and-runs and pedestrians. 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 508 crashes.
| Will | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 13% | 34% | below the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 29% | 30% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 27% | 25% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A drinking driver | 30% | 27% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 43% | 37% | above the Illinois share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.9% | 9.8% | below the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 43% | 46% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.7% | 8.4% | below the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 19% | 14% | above the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 12% | 16% | below 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 Will County, Illinois
- How many people died in car accidents in Will County in 2024?
- 58 people died in 54 fatal crashes in Will County, Illinois, in 2024, 38.1% more than in 2023. That is 8.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Will County?
- I-55 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Will County from 2015 to 2024: 60, with 65 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Will County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Thursday, 4 to 8 pm, with 25 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Will County involved a drinking driver?
- 152 of 508 fatal crashes in Will County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 30%, against 27% across Illinois.
Other counties in Illinois with a page
- Cook 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 Will County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Will County (county code 197). 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/will-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”