Fatal crashes in Black Hawk County, Iowa
In 2024, 15 people died in 15 fatal crashes in Black Hawk County, Iowa, up from 13 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 95 fatal crashes and 103 deaths, the 5th most of 99 counties in Iowa.
11.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11 across Iowa in 2024; 7.8 against 11 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 132,348, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Iowa.
Deaths in Black Hawk County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 | 15 |
| 2023 | 12 | 13 |
| 2022 | 5 | 7 |
| 2021 | 9 | 9 |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 |
| 2018 | 7 | 10 |
| 2017 | 8 | 8 |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 |
| 2015 | 9 | 10 |
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 Black Hawk County
The 4 roads listed held 26% of all fatal crashes in Black Hawk County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 2 US routes, 1 state highway. 35% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 65% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 63 | 8 | 9 | 3 | no page |
| 2 | I-380 | 6 | 6 | 3 | no page |
| 3 | US 218 | 6 | 6 | 2 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 58 | 5 | 5 | 0 | no page |
Waterloo had 45% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 43 of 95.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Waterloo 43, Cedar Falls 12. 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 Black Hawk County
95 fatal crashes in Black Hawk County, Iowa 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 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 9.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.2%
- Feb3.2%
- Mar4.2%
- Apr7.4%
- May9.5%
- Jun7.4%
- Jul15.8%
- Aug15.8%
- Sep12.6%
- Oct6.3%
- Nov10.5%
- Dec4.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Black Hawk County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 43%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 21%, a pedestrian in 11%, a rollover in 11%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 41 | 43% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 20 | 21% |
| Pedestrian | 10 | 11% |
| Rollover | 10 | 11% |
| Cyclist | 6 | 6.3% |
| Other | 6 | 6.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 2.1% |
| 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 Black Hawk County compare with Iowa
The largest difference from Iowa: from 2015 to 2024, 34% of fatal crashes in Black Hawk County were on rural roads, against 72% across Iowa. Below the Iowa share: unlit roads at night and drinking drivers. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Iowa. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 95 crashes.
| Black Hawk | Iowa | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 34% | 72% | below the Iowa share |
| At or near an intersection | 35% | 27% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 18% | 28% | below the Iowa share |
| A drinking driver | 14% | 25% | below the Iowa share |
| Speeding | 18% | 20% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.3% | 7.0% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 41% | 45% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.2% | 2.0% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| A motorcycle involved | 19% | 17% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.7% | 7.1% | about the same as the Iowa 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 Black Hawk County, Iowa
- How many people died in car accidents in Black Hawk County in 2024?
- 15 people died in 15 fatal crashes in Black Hawk County, Iowa, in 2024, up from 13 in 2023. That is 11.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11 across Iowa. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- How many fatal crashes in Black Hawk County involved a drinking driver?
- 13 of 95 fatal crashes in Black Hawk County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 14%, against 25% across Iowa.
Other counties in Iowa with a page
- Polk County
- Scott County
- Linn County
- Pottawattamie County
- Woodbury County
- Johnson County
- Dubuque County
- Lee County
- Webster County
- Dallas County
- Cerro Gordo County
- Warren County
All fatal crashes in Iowa, with every county ranked.
Where the Black Hawk County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Black Hawk County (county code 13). 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/iowa/black-hawk-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”