Fatal crashes in Portage County, Ohio
In 2024, 12 people died in 11 fatal crashes in Portage County, Ohio, 40.0% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 138 fatal crashes and 149 deaths, the 20th most of 88 counties in Ohio.
7.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.7 across Ohio in 2024; 9.2 against 10.1 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 163,839, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Ohio.
Deaths in Portage County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 12 |
| 2023 | 20 | 20 |
| 2022 | 16 | 18 |
| 2021 | 16 | 17 |
| 2020 | 13 | 17 |
| 2019 | 14 | 14 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2017 | 9 | 9 |
| 2016 | 12 | 14 |
| 2015 | 20 | 21 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Portage County
State Highway 14 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Portage County from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 20 deaths. The 9 roads listed held 56% of all fatal crashes in Portage County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 US route, 7 state highways. 69% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 31% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 14 | 18 | 20 | 5 | no page |
| 2 | I-76 | 9 | 11 | 2 | |
| 3 | State Highway 44 | 8 | 9 | 4 | no page |
| 4 | US 224 | 8 | 9 | 2 | |
| 5 | State Highway 59 | 8 | 8 | 2 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 303 | 7 | 7 | 3 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 43 | 7 | 7 | 2 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 5 | 7 | 7 | 2 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 82 | 5 | 7 | 4 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Streetsboro 9, Ravenna 6, Aurora 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 Portage County
138 fatal crashes in Portage 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 July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.1%
- Feb4.3%
- Mar8.7%
- Apr8.0%
- May8.0%
- Jun10.9%
- Jul13.8%
- Aug7.2%
- Sep13.0%
- Oct8.7%
- Nov3.6%
- Dec8.7%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Portage County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 51%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 28%, a pedestrian in 12%, a rollover in 2.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 71 | 51% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 39 | 28% |
| Pedestrian | 17 | 12% |
| Other | 6 | 4.3% |
| Rollover | 3 | 2.2% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 1.4% |
| 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 Portage County compare with Ohio
The largest difference from Ohio: from 2015 to 2024, 52% of fatal crashes in Portage County were on rural roads, against 42% across Ohio. 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 138 crashes.
| Portage | Ohio | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 52% | 42% | above the Ohio share |
| At or near an intersection | 20% | 27% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 25% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| A drinking driver | 30% | 32% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Speeding | 23% | 23% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.3% | 5.0% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 49% | 55% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.3% | 5.9% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 17% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 12% | 12% | about the same as 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 Portage County, Ohio
- How many people died in car accidents in Portage County in 2024?
- 12 people died in 11 fatal crashes in Portage County, Ohio, in 2024, 40.0% fewer than in 2023. That is 7.3 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.7 across Ohio. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Portage County?
- State Highway 14 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Portage County from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 20 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Portage County involved a drinking driver?
- 41 of 138 fatal crashes in Portage County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 30%, 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 Portage County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Portage County (county code 133). 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/portage-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”