Fatal crashes in Centre County, Pennsylvania
In 2024, 7 people died in 6 fatal crashes in Centre County, Pennsylvania, down from 15 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 122 fatal crashes and 129 deaths, the 28th most of 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
Deaths in Centre County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 7 |
| 2023 | 13 | 15 |
| 2022 | 16 | 18 |
| 2021 | 10 | 10 |
| 2020 | 14 | 14 |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | 12 | 13 |
| 2017 | 15 | 16 |
| 2016 | 20 | 20 |
| 2015 | 15 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Centre County
I-80 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Centre County from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 16 deaths. The 8 roads listed held 55% of all fatal crashes in Centre County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 1 US route, 5 state highways. 82% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 18% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-80 | 13 | 16 | 8 | |
| 2 | State Highway 45 | 13 | 13 | 1 | no page |
| 3 | US 322 | 10 | 10 | 1 | |
| 4 | State Highway 64 | 8 | 9 | 4 | no page |
| 5 | I-99 | 7 | 7 | 4 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 192 | 6 | 6 | 0 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 150 | 5 | 5 | 2 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 26 | 5 | 5 | 1 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: State College 7. 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 Centre County
122 fatal crashes in Centre County, Pennsylvania 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 4 pm to 5 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 | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 6.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.8%
- Feb4.9%
- Mar5.7%
- Apr9.0%
- May11.5%
- Jun8.2%
- Jul8.2%
- Aug14.8%
- Sep9.0%
- Oct4.9%
- Nov9.0%
- Dec4.9%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Centre County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 49%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 28%, a pedestrian in 7.4%, a rollover in 4.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 60 | 49% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 34 | 28% |
| Pedestrian | 9 | 7.4% |
| Other | 9 | 7.4% |
| Rollover | 5 | 4.1% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 3.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.8% |
| 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 Centre County compare with Pennsylvania
The largest difference from Pennsylvania: from 2015 to 2024, 68% of fatal crashes in Centre County were on rural roads, against 45% across Pennsylvania. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Pennsylvania. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 122 crashes.
| Centre | Pennsylvania | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 68% | 45% | above the Pennsylvania share |
| At or near an intersection | 23% | 24% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 25% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| A drinking driver | 26% | 25% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| Speeding | 35% | 40% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.6% | 5.3% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 51% | 58% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.6% | 5.1% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 18% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.3% | 14% | about the same as the Pennsylvania 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 Centre County, Pennsylvania
- How many people died in car accidents in Centre County in 2024?
- 7 people died in 6 fatal crashes in Centre County, Pennsylvania, in 2024, down from 15 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Centre County?
- I-80 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Centre County from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 16 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Centre County involved a drinking driver?
- 32 of 122 fatal crashes in Centre County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 26%, against 25% across Pennsylvania.
Other counties in Pennsylvania with a page
- Philadelphia County
- Allegheny County
- Bucks County
- Lancaster County
- Berks County
- Montgomery County
- York County
- Westmoreland County
- Chester County
- Luzerne County
- Dauphin County
- Lehigh County
All fatal crashes in Pennsylvania, with every county ranked.
Where the Centre County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Centre County (county code 27). 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/pennsylvania/centre-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”