Fatal crashes in Putnam County, Indiana
In 2024, 6 people died in 6 fatal crashes in Putnam County, Indiana, up from 5 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 62 fatal crashes and 68 deaths, the 39th most of 92 counties in Indiana.
Deaths in Putnam County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 6 |
| 2023 | 4 | 5 |
| 2022 | 8 | 9 |
| 2021 | 4 | 6 |
| 2020 | 8 | 8 |
| 2019 | 10 | 10 |
| 2018 | 5 | 6 |
| 2017 | 8 | 9 |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 | 8 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Numbered roads with fatal crashes in Putnam County
The 3 roads listed held 26% of all fatal crashes in Putnam County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 2 US routes. 61% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 39% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Greencastle 8. 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 Putnam County
62 fatal crashes in Putnam County, Indiana 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 4 pm to 5 pm; the worst month is June.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 8.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.5%
- Feb11.3%
- Mar12.9%
- Apr8.1%
- May1.6%
- Jun14.5%
- Jul4.8%
- Aug12.9%
- Sep6.5%
- Oct9.7%
- Nov3.2%
- Dec8.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Putnam County first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 42%; a collision with another vehicle in 27%, a rollover in 15%, a pedestrian in 6.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 26 | 42% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 17 | 27% |
| Rollover | 9 | 15% |
| Pedestrian | 4 | 6.5% |
| Other | 4 | 6.5% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.6% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.6% |
| 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 Putnam County compare with Indiana
The largest difference from Indiana: from 2015 to 2024, 92% of fatal crashes in Putnam County were on rural roads, against 58% across Indiana. Below the Indiana share: intersections. 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 62 crashes.
| Putnam | Indiana | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 92% | 58% | above the Indiana share |
| At or near an intersection | 13% | 27% | below the Indiana share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 31% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| A drinking driver | 16% | 20% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Speeding | 36% | 26% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 11% | 5.7% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 42% | 46% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.6% | 5.3% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| A motorcycle involved | 13% | 16% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 5.9% | 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 Putnam County, Indiana
- How many people died in car accidents in Putnam County in 2024?
- 6 people died in 6 fatal crashes in Putnam County, Indiana, in 2024, up from 5 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- How many fatal crashes in Putnam County involved a drinking driver?
- 10 of 62 fatal crashes in Putnam County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 16%, against 20% across Indiana.
Other counties in Indiana with a page
- Marion County
- Lake County
- Allen County
- Elkhart County
- St. Joseph County
- Porter County
- Vanderburgh County
- LaPorte County
- Hamilton County
- Madison County
- Tippecanoe County
- Delaware County
All fatal crashes in Indiana, with every county ranked.
Where the Putnam County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Putnam County (county code 133). 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/putnam-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”