Fatal crashes in Wayne County, Indiana
In 2024, 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Wayne County, Indiana, down from 7 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 67 fatal crashes and 70 deaths, the 32nd most of 92 counties in Indiana.
Deaths in Wayne County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 4 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 |
| 2021 | 6 | 6 |
| 2020 | 9 | 12 |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | 7 | 7 |
| 2016 | 10 | 10 |
| 2015 | 7 | 7 |
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 Wayne County
The 3 roads listed held 28% of all fatal crashes in Wayne County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 2 US routes. 57% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 43% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
Richmond had 24% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 16 of 67.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Richmond 16, Centerville 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 Wayne County
67 fatal crashes in Wayne 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 7 am to 8 am; 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 | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.5%
- Feb4.5%
- Mar3.0%
- Apr10.4%
- May14.9%
- Jun17.9%
- Jul10.4%
- Aug9.0%
- Sep6.0%
- Oct9.0%
- Nov4.5%
- Dec6.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Wayne County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 45%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 31%, a rollover in 12%, a cyclist in 4.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 30 | 45% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 21 | 31% |
| Rollover | 8 | 12% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 4.5% |
| Other | 3 | 4.5% |
| Pedestrian | 2 | 3.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 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 Wayne County compare with Indiana
The largest difference from Indiana: from 2015 to 2024, 81% of fatal crashes in Wayne County were on rural roads, against 58% across Indiana. 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 67 crashes.
| Wayne | Indiana | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 81% | 58% | above the Indiana share |
| At or near an intersection | 21% | 27% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 33% | 31% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 20% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Speeding | 33% | 26% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.0% | 5.7% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 47% | 46% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.0% | 5.3% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| A motorcycle involved | 21% | 16% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 4.3% | 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 Wayne County, Indiana
- How many people died in car accidents in Wayne County in 2024?
- 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Wayne County, Indiana, in 2024, down from 7 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- How many fatal crashes in Wayne County involved a drinking driver?
- 13 of 67 fatal crashes in Wayne County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 19%, 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 Wayne County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Wayne County (county code 177). 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/wayne-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”