I-78 in New Jersey: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 87 fatal crashes on I-78 in New Jersey killed 93 people, the 7th most of 125 numbered roads in New Jersey. In 2024 there were 10 fatal crashes and 13 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 6 counties of New Jersey. All fatal crashes in New Jersey. I-78 in every state.
Deaths on I-78 in New Jersey by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 13 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 7 | 8 |
| 2021 | 11 | 11 |
| 2020 | 10 | 10 |
| 2019 | 9 | 9 |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 |
| 2015 | 7 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-78 in New Jersey: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Somerset County had the most fatal crashes on I-78 from 2015 to 2024: 24, with 27 deaths. Somerset, Union and Hunterdon counties together held 70% of fatal crashes on I-78 in New Jersey from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 98%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somerset County | 1 | 24 | 27 |
| 2 | Union County | 2 | 19 | 20 |
| 3 | Hunterdon County | 2 | 18 | 18 |
| 4 | Essex County | 2 | 15 | 15 |
| 5 | Warren County | 3 | 9 | 10 |
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-78 in New Jersey
87 fatal crashes on I-78 in New Jersey 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 11 pm to midnight; 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 | 4.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 8.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 8.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Sat | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.0%
- Feb9.2%
- Mar9.2%
- Apr9.2%
- May10.3%
- Jun4.6%
- Jul14.9%
- Aug8.0%
- Sep9.2%
- Oct8.0%
- Nov4.6%
- Dec4.6%
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-78 in New Jersey
12.8 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 68 miles of I-78 in New Jersey, against 15.3 for all interstates in New Jersey. That ranks 3 of 3 interstates in New Jersey and 44 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-78 in New Jersey first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 36%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 32%, a parked vehicle in 12%, a pedestrian in 8.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 31 | 36% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 28 | 32% |
| Parked vehicle | 10 | 12% |
| Pedestrian | 7 | 8.0% |
| Rollover | 7 | 8.0% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 2.3% |
| Other | 2 | 2.3% |
| 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 I-78 in New Jersey compare with the state
The largest difference from New Jersey: from 2015 to 2024, 0.0% of fatal crashes on I-78 in New Jersey were at or near an intersection, against 34% across New Jersey. Also above the New Jersey share: unlit roads at night. Below it: speeding, hit-and-runs, motorcycles and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of New Jersey. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 87 crashes.
| I-78 | New Jersey | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 14% | 11% | about the same as the New Jersey share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.0% | 34% | below the New Jersey share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 30% | 18% | above the New Jersey share |
| A drinking driver | 18% | 22% | about the same as the New Jersey share |
| Speeding | 10% | 23% | below the New Jersey share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 32% | 26% | about the same as the New Jersey share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 48% | 45% | about the same as the New Jersey share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.3% | 8.7% | below the New Jersey share |
| A motorcycle involved | 5.7% | 14% | below the New Jersey share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 29% | below the New Jersey 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-78 in New Jersey
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-78 in New Jersey?
- 87 fatal crashes killed 93 people on I-78 in New Jersey from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 10 fatal crashes and 13 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on I-78 in New Jersey do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Somerset County had the most fatal crashes on I-78 from 2015 to 2024: 24, with 27 deaths. Union County was second with 19.
- How dangerous is I-78 in New Jersey per mile?
- 12.8 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 68 miles of road, against 15.3 for all interstates in New Jersey. That ranks 3 of 3 interstates in New Jersey and 44 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 New Jersey with a page
- I-295
- I-80
- I-95
- State Highway 27
- State Highway 35
- State Highway 47
- State Highway 70
- US 1
- US 130
- US 206
- US 30
- US 322
All fatal crashes in New Jersey, with every road ranked.
Where the I-78 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-78 in New Jersey (filed under 5 spellings, such as "I- 78", "I-78", "I-78 E", "I-78 PHILLIPSBURG-NEWARK EXPY"). 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.