Fatal crashes in Cedar County, Iowa
In 2024, 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Cedar County, Iowa, down from 5 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 31 fatal crashes and 34 deaths, the 26th most of 99 counties in Iowa.
Deaths in Cedar County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 | 5 |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Cedar County
I-80 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Cedar County from 2015 to 2024: 15, with 18 deaths. The 1 road listed held 48% of all fatal crashes in Cedar County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate. 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.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-80 | 15 | 18 | 4 |
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 Cedar County
30 fatal crashes in Cedar 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 5 pm to 6 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 | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 6.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.7%
- Feb9.7%
- Mar6.5%
- Apr0.0%
- May9.7%
- Jun6.5%
- Jul19.4%
- Aug6.5%
- Sep12.9%
- Oct6.5%
- Nov3.2%
- Dec9.7%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Cedar County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 39%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 36%, a rollover in 16%, a pedestrian in 3.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 12 | 39% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 11 | 36% |
| Rollover | 5 | 16% |
| Pedestrian | 1 | 3.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 3.2% |
| Other | 1 | 3.2% |
| 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 Cedar County compare with Iowa
The largest difference from Iowa: from 2015 to 2024, 100% of fatal crashes in Cedar County were on rural roads, against 72% across Iowa. Below the Iowa share: intersections. 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 31 crashes.
| Cedar | Iowa | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 100% | 72% | above the Iowa share |
| At or near an intersection | 9.7% | 27% | below the Iowa share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 42% | 28% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| A drinking driver | 29% | 25% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Speeding | 19% | 20% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 0.0% | 7.0% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | Not enough data | 45% | |
| Hit-and-run | 0.0% | 2.0% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| A motorcycle involved | 13% | 17% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 5.9% | 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 Cedar County, Iowa
- How many people died in car accidents in Cedar County in 2024?
- 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Cedar County, Iowa, in 2024, down from 5 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Cedar County?
- I-80 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Cedar County from 2015 to 2024: 15, with 18 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Cedar County involved a drinking driver?
- 9 of 31 fatal crashes in Cedar County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 29%, against 25% across Iowa.
Other counties in Iowa with a page
- Polk County
- Scott County
- Linn County
- Pottawattamie County
- Black Hawk County
- Woodbury County
- Johnson County
- Dubuque County
- Lee County
- Webster County
- Dallas County
- Cerro Gordo County
All fatal crashes in Iowa, with every county ranked.
Where the Cedar County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Cedar County (county code 31). 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/cedar-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”