Fatal Crash Data

I-96 in Michigan: fatal crashes

From 2015 to 2024, 156 fatal crashes on I-96 in Michigan killed 179 people, the 3rd most of 162 numbered roads in Michigan. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 16 deaths on the road.

An interstate running through 10 counties of Michigan. All fatal crashes in Michigan. I-96 in every state.

Deaths on I-96 in Michigan by year

1020201620182020202220242023: 222024: 16
YearFatal crashesDeaths
20241316
20231922
20221821
20211819
20201720
20191721
20181314
20171213
20161719
20151214

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

Where on I-96 in Michigan: the counties with the most fatal crashes

Wayne County had the most fatal crashes on I-96 from 2015 to 2024: 59, with 67 deaths. Wayne, Livingston and Ingham counties together held 62% of fatal crashes on I-96 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024; the 9 listed held 99%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.

One fatal crash, 2015 to 2024Darker where crashes clusterNot on the map: 1 crash sits far from the rest of the road, most likely another road filed under I-96.

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

When fatal crashes happen on I-96 in Michigan

The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Friday), with 10 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 am to 3 am; the worst month is September.

Share of fatal crashes on I-96 in Michigan by weekday and time of day, 2015 to 2024, in percent
Midnight to 44 to 8 am8 to noonNoon to 44 to 8 pm8 to midnight
Sun5.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes3.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes3.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes
Mon1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes
Tue1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes3.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes
Wed1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash4.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes
Thu1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes5.1 percent, 8 fatal crashes1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes
Fri1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes3.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes
Sat6.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes3.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes3.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes

By hour

By month

  • Jan5.1%
  • Feb6.4%
  • Mar6.4%
  • Apr5.1%
  • May12.8%
  • Jun9.6%
  • Jul10.3%
  • Aug11.5%
  • Sep13.5%
  • Oct7.7%
  • Nov6.4%
  • Dec5.1%

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

Fatal crashes per mile on I-96 in Michigan

8.3 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 187 miles of I-96 in Michigan, against 6.3 for all interstates in Michigan. That ranks 2 of 4 interstates in Michigan and 84 of 172 interstate pages on this site.

Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS. Crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic.

What fatal crashes on I-96 in Michigan first hit

The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 41%; a collision with another vehicle in 32%, a rollover in 14%, a pedestrian in 9.0%.

First harmful eventFatal crashesShare
Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch)6441%
Collision with another vehicle5032%
Rollover2114%
Pedestrian149.0%
Parked vehicle53.2%
Other21.3%
Cyclist00.0%
Not reported00.0%

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

How fatal crashes on I-96 in Michigan compare with the state

The largest difference from Michigan: from 2015 to 2024, 0.6% of fatal crashes on I-96 in Michigan were at or near an intersection, against 29% across Michigan. Also above the Michigan share: speeding. Below it: rural roads, unbelted occupants and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Michigan. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 156 crashes.

I-96Michigan
On rural stretches27%41%below the Michigan share
At or near an intersection0.6%29%below the Michigan share
In the dark, road unlit23%26%about the same as the Michigan share
A drinking driver26%28%about the same as the Michigan share
Speeding39%25%above the Michigan share
A distracted driver (as recorded)8.3%5.9%about the same as the Michigan share
Occupants killed unbelted30%38%below the Michigan share
Hit-and-run3.8%6.5%about the same as the Michigan share
A motorcycle involved10%16%about the same as the Michigan share
Pedestrians among the dead9.5%15%below the Michigan 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 on I-96 in Michigan

How many fatal crashes have there been on I-96 in Michigan?
156 fatal crashes killed 179 people on I-96 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 16 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
Where on I-96 in Michigan do the most fatal crashes happen?
Wayne County had the most fatal crashes on I-96 from 2015 to 2024: 59, with 67 deaths. Livingston County was second with 23.
When do fatal crashes on I-96 in Michigan happen most often?
The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Friday), with 10 fatal crashes.
How dangerous is I-96 in Michigan per mile?
8.3 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 187 miles of road, against 6.3 for all interstates in Michigan. That ranks 2 of 4 interstates in Michigan and 84 of 172 interstate pages on this site. FARS records crashes, not traffic, so this is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle.

Other roads in Michigan with a page

All fatal crashes in Michigan, with every road ranked.

Where the I-96 numbers come from

Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-96 in Michigan (filed under 10 spellings, such as "I-96", "I-96 CD", "I-96 EXPRESS FWY", "I-96 LOCAL"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.