Fatal crashes in Ottawa County, Ohio
In 2024, 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Ottawa County, Ohio, up from 3 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 45 fatal crashes and 51 deaths, the 75th most of 88 counties in Ohio.
Deaths in Ottawa County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3 |
| 2022 | 6 | 7 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020 | 4 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 | 8 |
| 2018 | 5 | 6 |
| 2017 | 4 | 6 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 |
| 2015 | 4 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Numbered roads with fatal crashes in Ottawa County
49% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 51% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
No numbered road in Ottawa County had 5 or more fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024.
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 Ottawa County
45 fatal crashes in Ottawa 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 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 8.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 6.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 11.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.4%
- Feb6.7%
- Mar8.9%
- Apr6.7%
- May6.7%
- Jun8.9%
- Jul15.6%
- Aug17.8%
- Sep4.4%
- Oct11.1%
- Nov2.2%
- Dec6.7%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Ottawa County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 56%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a rollover in 4.4%, a pedestrian in 2.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 25 | 56% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 12 | 27% |
| Other | 4 | 8.9% |
| Rollover | 2 | 4.4% |
| Pedestrian | 1 | 2.2% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 2.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 Ottawa County compare with Ohio
The largest difference from Ohio: from 2015 to 2024, 74% of fatal crashes in Ottawa County were on rural roads, against 42% across Ohio. Below the Ohio share: 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 45 crashes.
| Ottawa | Ohio | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 74% | 42% | above the Ohio share |
| At or near an intersection | 36% | 27% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 33% | 25% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| A drinking driver | 40% | 32% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Speeding | 20% | 23% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.4% | 5.0% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 47% | 55% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.2% | 5.9% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| A motorcycle involved | 22% | 17% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 2.0% | 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 Ottawa County, Ohio
- How many people died in car accidents in Ottawa County in 2024?
- 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Ottawa County, Ohio, in 2024, up from 3 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- How many fatal crashes in Ottawa County involved a drinking driver?
- 18 of 45 fatal crashes in Ottawa County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 40%, 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 Ottawa County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Ottawa County (county code 123). 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/ottawa-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”