Fatal crashes in Porter County, Indiana
In 2024, 23 people died in 22 fatal crashes in Porter County, Indiana, up from 16 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 180 fatal crashes and 194 deaths, the 6th most of 92 counties in Indiana.
13.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 12 across Indiana in 2024; 11.3 against 13 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 175,860, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Indiana.
Deaths in Porter County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22 | 23 |
| 2023 | 15 | 16 |
| 2022 | 24 | 24 |
| 2021 | 17 | 17 |
| 2020 | 18 | 20 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 |
| 2018 | 16 | 19 |
| 2017 | 25 | 28 |
| 2016 | 17 | 19 |
| 2015 | 20 | 22 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Porter County
US 20 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Porter County from 2015 to 2024: 24, with 28 deaths. The 9 roads listed held 59% of all fatal crashes in Porter County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 4 US routes, 4 state highways. 68% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 32% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 20 | 24 | 28 | 8 | |
| 2 | I-94 | 13 | 13 | 5 | no page |
| 3 | US 6 | 13 | 13 | 3 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 49 | 12 | 13 | 4 | no page |
| 5 | US 30 | 12 | 13 | 4 | |
| 6 | State Highway 130 | 10 | 12 | 3 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 8 | 9 | 12 | 3 | no page |
| 8 | US 12 | 7 | 8 | 1 | |
| 9 | State Highway 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | no page |
Valparaiso had 20% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 36 of 180.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Valparaiso 36, Portage 28, Chesterton 18, Porter 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 Porter County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, noon to 4 pm, with 10 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 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 | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.1%
- Feb5.6%
- Mar9.4%
- Apr9.4%
- May10.0%
- Jun11.7%
- Jul6.7%
- Aug3.9%
- Sep6.7%
- Oct15.0%
- Nov8.3%
- Dec7.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Porter County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 46%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a pedestrian in 12%, a rollover in 6.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 83 | 46% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 48 | 27% |
| Pedestrian | 22 | 12% |
| Rollover | 11 | 6.1% |
| Other | 9 | 5.0% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 2.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 3 | 1.7% |
| 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 Porter County compare with Indiana
The largest difference from Indiana: from 2015 to 2024, 39% of fatal crashes in Porter County were in the dark on unlit roads, against 31% across Indiana. Below the Indiana share: hit-and-runs. 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 180 crashes.
| Porter | Indiana | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 53% | 58% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 27% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 39% | 31% | above the Indiana share |
| A drinking driver | 18% | 20% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Speeding | 24% | 26% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.9% | 5.7% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 39% | 46% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.7% | 5.3% | below the Indiana share |
| A motorcycle involved | 21% | 16% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 12% | 11% | about the same as 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 Porter County, Indiana
- How many people died in car accidents in Porter County in 2024?
- 23 people died in 22 fatal crashes in Porter County, Indiana, in 2024, up from 16 in 2023. That is 13.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 12 across Indiana. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Porter County?
- US 20 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Porter County from 2015 to 2024: 24, with 28 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Porter County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, noon to 4 pm, with 10 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Porter County involved a drinking driver?
- 32 of 180 fatal crashes in Porter County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 18%, against 20% across Indiana.
Other counties in Indiana with a page
- Marion County
- Lake County
- Allen County
- Elkhart County
- St. Joseph 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 Porter County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Porter County (county code 127). 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/porter-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”