Fatal crashes in Erie County, New York
In 2024, 55 people died in 54 fatal crashes in Erie County, New York, 6.8% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 481 fatal crashes and 503 deaths, the 5th most of 62 counties in New York.
5.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 5.5 across New York in 2024; 5.4 against 5.4 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 950,602, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in New York.
Deaths in Erie County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 54 | 55 |
| 2023 | 55 | 59 |
| 2022 | 52 | 59 |
| 2021 | 60 | 63 |
| 2020 | 43 | 48 |
| 2019 | 38 | 39 |
| 2018 | 43 | 43 |
| 2017 | 42 | 43 |
| 2016 | 50 | 50 |
| 2015 | 44 | 44 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Erie County
State Highway 5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Erie County from 2015 to 2024: 29, with 30 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 41% of all fatal crashes in Erie County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 3 US routes, 10 state highways. 51% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 49% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 5 | 29 | 30 | 14 | |
| 2 | US 20 | 29 | 30 | 6 | |
| 3 | US 62 | 24 | 25 | 10 | |
| 4 | State Highway 33 | 21 | 22 | 11 | no page |
| 5 | I-90 | 14 | 15 | 4 | |
| 6 | State Highway 354 | 13 | 13 | 4 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 16 | 12 | 13 | 6 | no page |
| 8 | US 219 | 10 | 11 | 2 | no page |
| 9 | I-190 | 9 | 10 | 3 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 78 | 8 | 8 | 5 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 277 | 7 | 7 | 4 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 384 | 7 | 7 | 2 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 240 | 6 | 6 | 2 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 39 | 5 | 5 | 0 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 400 | 5 | 5 | 1 | no page |
Buffalo had 31% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 147 of 481.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Buffalo 147, Cheektowaga 44, Amherst 32, Hamburg 28, Lancaster 19, Tonawanda 18, West Seneca 14, Elma 13. 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 Erie County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Friday), with 23 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 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 | 3.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 15 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.1 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.8 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.2%
- Feb6.2%
- Mar4.6%
- Apr4.6%
- May12.3%
- Jun10.2%
- Jul10.0%
- Aug11.9%
- Sep11.0%
- Oct7.7%
- Nov7.5%
- Dec7.9%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Erie County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 42%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 25%, a pedestrian in 20%, a cyclist in 4.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 200 | 42% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 122 | 25% |
| Pedestrian | 98 | 20% |
| Cyclist | 23 | 4.8% |
| Other | 21 | 4.4% |
| Rollover | 10 | 2.1% |
| Parked vehicle | 7 | 1.5% |
| 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 Erie County compare with New York
The largest difference from New York: from 2015 to 2024, 23% of fatal crashes in Erie County were on rural roads, against 30% across New York. Also above the New York share: drinking drivers. Below it: unlit roads at night and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of New York. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 481 crashes.
| Erie | New York | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 23% | 30% | below the New York share |
| At or near an intersection | 33% | 34% | about the same as the New York share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 13% | 17% | below the New York share |
| A drinking driver | 26% | 20% | above the New York share |
| Speeding | 34% | 31% | about the same as the New York share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.6% | 12% | about the same as the New York share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 38% | 37% | about the same as the New York share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.5% | 8.2% | about the same as the New York share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 18% | about the same as the New York share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 20% | 26% | below the New York 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 Erie County, New York
- How many people died in car accidents in Erie County in 2024?
- 55 people died in 54 fatal crashes in Erie County, New York, in 2024, 6.8% fewer than in 2023. That is 5.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 5.5 across New York. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Erie County?
- State Highway 5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Erie County from 2015 to 2024: 29, with 30 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Erie County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Friday), with 23 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Erie County involved a drinking driver?
- 123 of 481 fatal crashes in Erie County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 26%, against 20% across New York.
Other counties in New York with a page
- Suffolk County
- Nassau County
- Queens County
- Kings County
- Monroe County
- Bronx County
- New York County
- Westchester County
- Orange County
- Onondaga County
- Dutchess County
- Albany County
All fatal crashes in New York, with every county ranked.
Where the Erie County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Erie County (county code 29). 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/new-york/erie-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”