Fatal crashes in Fairfield County, Ohio
In 2024, 13 people died in 13 fatal crashes in Fairfield County, Ohio, down from 15 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 135 fatal crashes and 148 deaths, the 21st most of 88 counties in Ohio.
7.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.7 across Ohio in 2024; 9.3 against 10.1 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 167,762, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Ohio.
Deaths in Fairfield County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | 13 |
| 2023 | 15 | 15 |
| 2022 | 12 | 12 |
| 2021 | 17 | 21 |
| 2020 | 16 | 16 |
| 2019 | 13 | 16 |
| 2018 | 14 | 15 |
| 2017 | 11 | 14 |
| 2016 | 11 | 12 |
| 2015 | 13 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Fairfield County
US 22 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Fairfield County from 2015 to 2024: 16, with 19 deaths. The 6 roads listed held 51% of all fatal crashes in Fairfield County from 2015 to 2024; 2 US routes, 4 state highways. 59% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 41% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 22 | 16 | 19 | 3 | |
| 2 | State Highway 37 | 14 | 15 | 6 | no page |
| 3 | US 33 | 12 | 12 | 3 | |
| 4 | State Highway 188 | 11 | 11 | 4 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 158 | 10 | 14 | 2 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 256 | 6 | 6 | 1 | no page |
Lancaster had 12% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 16 of 135.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Lancaster 16, Pickerington 5. 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 Fairfield County
135 fatal crashes in Fairfield County, Ohio 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 10 pm to 11 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.9%
- Feb4.4%
- Mar6.7%
- Apr8.9%
- May8.1%
- Jun11.1%
- Jul9.6%
- Aug9.6%
- Sep12.6%
- Oct9.6%
- Nov8.1%
- Dec5.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Fairfield County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 44%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 36%, a rollover in 8.1%, a pedestrian in 3.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 59 | 44% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 48 | 36% |
| Rollover | 11 | 8.1% |
| Other | 6 | 4.4% |
| Pedestrian | 5 | 3.7% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 3.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.7% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.7% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Fairfield County compare with Ohio
The largest difference from Ohio: from 2015 to 2024, 63% of fatal crashes in Fairfield County were on rural roads, against 42% across Ohio. Also above the Ohio share: motorcycles. Below it: speeding, hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Ohio. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 135 crashes.
| Fairfield | Ohio | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 63% | 42% | above the Ohio share |
| At or near an intersection | 20% | 27% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 30% | 25% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| A drinking driver | 39% | 32% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Speeding | 13% | 23% | below the Ohio share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 2.2% | 5.0% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 59% | 55% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.5% | 5.9% | below the Ohio share |
| A motorcycle involved | 24% | 17% | above the Ohio share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 4.7% | 12% | below the Ohio 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 Fairfield County, Ohio
- How many people died in car accidents in Fairfield County in 2024?
- 13 people died in 13 fatal crashes in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 2024, down from 15 in 2023. That is 7.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.7 across Ohio. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Fairfield County?
- US 22 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Fairfield County from 2015 to 2024: 16, with 19 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Fairfield County involved a drinking driver?
- 53 of 135 fatal crashes in Fairfield County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 39%, against 32% across Ohio.
Other counties in Ohio with a page
- Franklin County
- Cuyahoga County
- Hamilton County
- Montgomery County
- Lucas County
- Summit County
- Stark County
- Butler County
- Lorain County
- Licking County
- Mahoning County
- Clark County
All fatal crashes in Ohio, with every county ranked.
Where the Fairfield County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Fairfield County (county code 45). 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/ohio/fairfield-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”