Fatal crashes in Shelby County, Indiana
In 2024, 15 people died in 15 fatal crashes in Shelby County, Indiana, up from 7 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 93 fatal crashes and 98 deaths, the 23rd most of 92 counties in Indiana.
32.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 12 across Indiana in 2024; 21.8 against 13 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 45,654, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Indiana.
Deaths in Shelby County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 | 15 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 11 | 12 |
| 2021 | 7 | 8 |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 |
| 2019 | 9 | 10 |
| 2018 | 9 | 10 |
| 2017 | 7 | 7 |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 |
| 2015 | 8 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Shelby County
I-74 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Shelby County from 2015 to 2024: 15, with 17 deaths. The 5 roads listed held 46% of all fatal crashes in Shelby County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 3 state highways. 59% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 41% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-74 | 15 | 17 | 7 | |
| 2 | State Highway 9 | 9 | 10 | 6 | |
| 3 | State Highway 44 | 8 | 8 | 4 | no page |
| 4 | I-74E | 6 | 6 | 0 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 9N | 5 | 6 | 0 | no page |
Shelbyville had 32% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 30 of 93.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Shelbyville 30. 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 Shelby County
93 fatal crashes in Shelby 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 1 pm to 2 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 | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.5%
- Feb7.5%
- Mar8.6%
- Apr3.2%
- May7.5%
- Jun9.7%
- Jul10.8%
- Aug10.8%
- Sep9.7%
- Oct11.8%
- Nov7.5%
- Dec5.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Shelby County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 38%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 36%, a rollover in 13%, a pedestrian in 9.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 35 | 38% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 33 | 36% |
| Rollover | 12 | 13% |
| Pedestrian | 9 | 9.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 2.2% |
| Other | 2 | 2.2% |
| Cyclist | 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 in Shelby County compare with Indiana
The largest difference from Indiana: from 2015 to 2024, 89% of fatal crashes in Shelby 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 93 crashes.
| Shelby | Indiana | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 89% | 58% | above the Indiana share |
| At or near an intersection | 12% | 27% | below the Indiana share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 38% | 31% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| A drinking driver | 13% | 20% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Speeding | 23% | 26% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.5% | 5.7% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 42% | 46% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.1% | 5.3% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 16% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 10% | 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 Shelby County, Indiana
- How many people died in car accidents in Shelby County in 2024?
- 15 people died in 15 fatal crashes in Shelby County, Indiana, in 2024, up from 7 in 2023. That is 32.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 12 across Indiana. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Shelby County?
- I-74 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Shelby County from 2015 to 2024: 15, with 17 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Shelby County involved a drinking driver?
- 12 of 93 fatal crashes in Shelby County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 13%, 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 Shelby County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Shelby County (county code 145). 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/shelby-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”