I-85 in South Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 140 fatal crashes on I-85 in South Carolina killed 160 people, the 10th most of 806 numbered roads in South Carolina. In 2024 there were 14 fatal crashes and 16 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 5 counties of South Carolina. All fatal crashes in South Carolina. I-85 in every state.
Deaths on I-85 in South Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 | 16 |
| 2023 | 16 | 21 |
| 2022 | 9 | 10 |
| 2021 | 10 | 13 |
| 2020 | 15 | 15 |
| 2019 | 13 | 14 |
| 2018 | 19 | 22 |
| 2017 | 18 | 19 |
| 2016 | 10 | 10 |
| 2015 | 16 | 20 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-85 in South Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Spartanburg County had the most fatal crashes on I-85 from 2015 to 2024: 46, with 52 deaths. Spartanburg, Anderson and Greenville counties together held 81% of fatal crashes on I-85 in South Carolina from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spartanburg County | 4 | 46 | 52 |
| 2 | Anderson County | 3 | 37 | 41 |
| 3 | Greenville County | 5 | 30 | 35 |
| 4 | Cherokee County | 1 | 21 | 26 |
| 5 | Oconee County | 1 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on I-85 in South Carolina
The heaviest slot is Wednesday, 8 pm to midnight, with 11 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 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 | 5.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 3.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.1 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.6%
- Feb4.3%
- Mar7.1%
- Apr11.4%
- May7.1%
- Jun7.9%
- Jul7.1%
- Aug7.9%
- Sep12.1%
- Oct10.7%
- Nov9.3%
- Dec6.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Fatal crashes per mile on I-85 in South Carolina
13.2 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 106 miles of I-85 in South Carolina, against 12.5 for all interstates in South Carolina. That ranks 2 of 5 interstates in South Carolina and 41 of 172 interstate pages on this site.
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS. Crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic.
What fatal crashes on I-85 in South Carolina first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 46%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 26%, a pedestrian in 14%, a parked vehicle in 4.3%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 64 | 46% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 36 | 26% |
| Pedestrian | 19 | 14% |
| Other | 11 | 7.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 6 | 4.3% |
| Rollover | 4 | 2.9% |
| Cyclist | 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 on I-85 in South Carolina compare with the state
The largest difference from South Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 0.0% of fatal crashes on I-85 in South Carolina were at or near an intersection, against 20% across South Carolina. Also above the South Carolina share: unlit roads at night and speeding. Below it: rural roads, drinking drivers and motorcycles. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of South Carolina. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 140 crashes.
| I-85 | South Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 41% | 59% | below the South Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.0% | 20% | below the South Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 48% | 37% | above the South Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 21% | 32% | below the South Carolina share |
| Speeding | 50% | 40% | above the South Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.6% | 5.0% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 45% | 53% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.3% | 4.2% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 10% | 16% | below the South Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 16% | about the same as the South Carolina 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 on I-85 in South Carolina
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-85 in South Carolina?
- 140 fatal crashes killed 160 people on I-85 in South Carolina from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 14 fatal crashes and 16 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on I-85 in South Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Spartanburg County had the most fatal crashes on I-85 from 2015 to 2024: 46, with 52 deaths. Anderson County was second with 37.
- When do fatal crashes on I-85 in South Carolina happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Wednesday, 8 pm to midnight, with 11 fatal crashes.
- How dangerous is I-85 in South Carolina per mile?
- 13.2 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 106 miles of road, against 12.5 for all interstates in South Carolina. That ranks 2 of 5 interstates in South Carolina and 41 of 172 interstate pages on this site. FARS records crashes, not traffic, so this is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle.
Other roads in South Carolina with a page
- I-20
- I-26
- I-385
- I-77
- I-95
- State Highway 11
- State Highway 14
- State Highway 19
- State Highway 20
- State Highway 28
- State Highway 291
- State Highway 31
All fatal crashes in South Carolina, with every road ranked.
Where the I-85 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-85 in South Carolina. Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.