Fatal crashes in Marion County, Indiana
In 2024, 128 people died in 125 fatal crashes in Marion County, Indiana, 2.3% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 1,152 fatal crashes and 1,218 deaths, the most of any county in Indiana.
13 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 12 across Indiana in 2024; 12.6 against 13 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 981,628, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Indiana.
Deaths in Marion County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 125 | 128 |
| 2023 | 125 | 131 |
| 2022 | 139 | 144 |
| 2021 | 141 | 149 |
| 2020 | 135 | 146 |
| 2019 | 103 | 107 |
| 2018 | 101 | 110 |
| 2017 | 98 | 102 |
| 2016 | 97 | 104 |
| 2015 | 88 | 97 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Marion County
I-465 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Marion County from 2015 to 2024: 62, with 66 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 20% of all fatal crashes in Marion County from 2015 to 2024; 9 are interstates, 4 US routes, 2 state highways. 22% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 78% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-465 | 62 | 66 | 29 | |
| 2 | I-70 | 29 | 33 | 12 | |
| 3 | US 40 | 28 | 32 | 12 | |
| 4 | I-65 | 26 | 27 | 13 | |
| 5 | US 36 | 18 | 19 | 4 | |
| 6 | US 31 | 8 | 10 | 3 | |
| 7 | State Highway 67 | 8 | 9 | 3 | |
| 8 | I-65S | 7 | 7 | 0 | no page |
| 9 | I-465N | 6 | 6 | 0 | no page |
| 10 | I-70E | 6 | 6 | 0 | no page |
| 11 | I-74 | 6 | 6 | 2 | |
| 12 | State Highway 135 | 6 | 6 | 1 | |
| 13 | I-465W | 5 | 6 | 1 | no page |
| 14 | US 36E | 5 | 6 | 0 | no page |
| 15 | I-70W | 5 | 5 | 0 | no page |
Indianapolis had 86% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 995 of 1,152.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Indianapolis 995, Lawrence 27, Speedway 10. 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 Marion County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 67 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.8 percent, 67 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 42 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.9 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 34 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 31 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 37 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.1 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 42 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.8 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 39 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.8 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 40 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 53 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.3 percent, 50 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 39 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 62 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.2%
- Feb5.1%
- Mar7.8%
- Apr6.9%
- May9.5%
- Jun9.1%
- Jul10.2%
- Aug8.7%
- Sep9.6%
- Oct10.3%
- Nov7.6%
- Dec7.9%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Marion County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 41%; a pedestrian in 25%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 22%, a cyclist in 3.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 467 | 41% |
| Pedestrian | 282 | 25% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 257 | 22% |
| Other | 47 | 4.1% |
| Cyclist | 43 | 3.7% |
| Rollover | 33 | 2.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 22 | 1.9% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.1% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Marion County compare with Indiana
The largest difference from Indiana: from 2015 to 2024, 1.7% of fatal crashes in Marion County were on rural roads, against 58% across Indiana. Also above the Indiana share: intersections, drinking drivers, unbelted occupants, hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Below it: unlit roads at night and distracted drivers. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Indiana. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 1,152 crashes.
| Marion | Indiana | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 1.7% | 58% | below the Indiana share |
| At or near an intersection | 32% | 27% | above the Indiana share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 24% | 31% | below the Indiana share |
| A drinking driver | 24% | 20% | above the Indiana share |
| Speeding | 26% | 26% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.7% | 5.7% | below the Indiana share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 55% | 46% | above the Indiana share |
| Hit-and-run | 17% | 5.3% | above the Indiana share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 16% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 25% | 11% | above the Indiana 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 Marion County, Indiana
- How many people died in car accidents in Marion County in 2024?
- 128 people died in 125 fatal crashes in Marion County, Indiana, in 2024, 2.3% fewer than in 2023. That is 13 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 12 across Indiana. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Marion County?
- I-465 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Marion County from 2015 to 2024: 62, with 66 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Marion County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 67 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Marion County involved a drinking driver?
- 274 of 1,152 fatal crashes in Marion County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 24%, against 20% across Indiana.
Other counties in Indiana with a page
- Lake County
- Allen County
- Elkhart County
- St. Joseph County
- Porter County
- Vanderburgh County
- LaPorte County
- Hamilton County
- Madison County
- Tippecanoe County
- Delaware County
- Bartholomew County
All fatal crashes in Indiana, with every county ranked.
Where the Marion County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Marion County (county code 97). 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/indiana/marion-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”