US 131 in Michigan: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 141 fatal crashes on US 131 in Michigan killed 159 people, the 5th most of 162 numbered roads in Michigan. In 2024 there were 10 fatal crashes and 11 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 13 counties of Michigan. All fatal crashes in Michigan.
Deaths on US 131 in Michigan by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 11 |
| 2023 | 17 | 17 |
| 2022 | 20 | 24 |
| 2021 | 13 | 14 |
| 2020 | 10 | 11 |
| 2019 | 16 | 19 |
| 2018 | 16 | 18 |
| 2017 | 16 | 20 |
| 2016 | 10 | 11 |
| 2015 | 13 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 131 in Michigan: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Kent County had the most fatal crashes on US 131 from 2015 to 2024: 42, with 46 deaths. Kent, St. Joseph and Kalamazoo counties together held 53% of fatal crashes on US 131 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024; the 10 listed held 93%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kent County | 1 | 42 | 46 |
| 2 | St. Joseph County | 0 | 18 | 22 |
| 3 | Kalamazoo County | 0 | 15 | 19 |
| 4 | Allegan County | 2 | 14 | 14 |
| 5 | Mecosta County | 1 | 9 | 12 |
| 6 | Osceola County | 0 | 7 | 8 |
| 7 | Charlevoix County | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Kalkaska County | 2 | 7 | 7 |
| 9 | Wexford County | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 10 | Montcalm County | 0 | 6 | 6 |
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 US 131 in Michigan
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 10 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 pm to 3 pm; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 7.1 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.4%
- Feb7.8%
- Mar7.8%
- Apr6.4%
- May10.6%
- Jun8.5%
- Jul10.6%
- Aug9.9%
- Sep9.9%
- Oct6.4%
- Nov7.8%
- Dec7.8%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 131 in Michigan first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 48%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 22%, a rollover in 15%, a pedestrian in 7.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 67 | 48% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 31 | 22% |
| Rollover | 21 | 15% |
| Pedestrian | 10 | 7.1% |
| Other | 7 | 5.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 2.8% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 0.7% |
| 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 on US 131 in Michigan compare with the state
The largest difference from Michigan: from 2015 to 2024, 12% of fatal crashes on US 131 in Michigan were at or near an intersection, against 29% across Michigan. Also above the Michigan share: rural roads and unlit roads at night. Below it: 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 141 crashes.
| US 131 | Michigan | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 53% | 41% | above the Michigan share |
| At or near an intersection | 12% | 29% | below the Michigan share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 33% | 26% | above the Michigan share |
| A drinking driver | 36% | 28% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Speeding | 25% | 25% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.5% | 5.9% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 37% | 38% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.8% | 6.5% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| A motorcycle involved | 13% | 16% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 6.9% | 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 US 131 in Michigan
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 131 in Michigan?
- 141 fatal crashes killed 159 people on US 131 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 10 fatal crashes and 11 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 131 in Michigan do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Kent County had the most fatal crashes on US 131 from 2015 to 2024: 42, with 46 deaths. St. Joseph County was second with 18.
- When do fatal crashes on US 131 in Michigan happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 10 fatal crashes.
Other roads in Michigan with a page
- I-69
- I-75
- I-94
- I-96
- State Highway 10
- State Highway 102
- State Highway 21
- State Highway 24
- State Highway 25
- State Highway 3
- State Highway 37
- State Highway 43
All fatal crashes in Michigan, with every road ranked.
Where the US 131 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 131 in Michigan (filed under 6 spellings, such as "US-131", "US-131 HWY", "US-131 MITCHELL ST", "US-131 N PARK ST"). 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.