Fatal Crash Data

US 501 in South Carolina: fatal crashes

From 2015 to 2024, 94 fatal crashes on US 501 in South Carolina killed 98 people, the 17th most of 806 numbered roads in South Carolina. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 7 deaths on the road.

A US route running through 4 counties of South Carolina. All fatal crashes in South Carolina.

Deaths on US 501 in South Carolina by year

10201620182020202220242019: 162024: 7
YearFatal crashesDeaths
202467
20231414
202288
20211414
202077
20191416
201844
201788
20161011
201599

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

Where on US 501 in South Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes

Horry County had the most fatal crashes on US 501 from 2015 to 2024: 70, with 73 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.

One fatal crash, 2015 to 2024Darker where crashes clusterNot on the map: 1 crash sits far from the rest of the road, most likely another road filed under US 501.
County20242015 to 2024Deaths
1Horry County57073
2Marion County12222

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 US 501 in South Carolina

94 fatal crashes on US 501 in South Carolina 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 1 am to 2 am; the worst month is July.

Share of fatal crashes on US 501 in South Carolina by weekday and time of day, 2015 to 2024, in percent
Midnight to 44 to 8 am8 to noonNoon to 44 to 8 pm8 to midnight
Sun5.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes
Mon3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash5.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes5.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash
Tue3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes4.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash
Wed3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash6.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes
Thu2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash
Fri3.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes5.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes5.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes6.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes
Sat4.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash2.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes

By hour

By month

  • Jan7.4%
  • Feb5.3%
  • Mar8.5%
  • Apr6.4%
  • May11.7%
  • Jun7.4%
  • Jul12.8%
  • Aug10.6%
  • Sep9.6%
  • Oct7.4%
  • Nov5.3%
  • Dec7.4%

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

What fatal crashes on US 501 in South Carolina first hit

The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 43%; a pedestrian in 37%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 9.6%, a rollover in 5.3%.

First harmful eventFatal crashesShare
Collision with another vehicle4043%
Pedestrian3537%
Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch)99.6%
Rollover55.3%
Cyclist33.2%
Parked vehicle11.1%
Other11.1%
Not reported00.0%

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count

How fatal crashes on US 501 in South Carolina compare with the state

The largest difference from South Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, pedestrians were 38% of the dead on US 501 in South Carolina, against 16% across South Carolina. Also above the South Carolina share: intersections and hit-and-runs. Below it: rural roads, drinking drivers and speeding. 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 94 crashes.

US 501South Carolina
On rural stretches47%59%below the South Carolina share
At or near an intersection30%20%above the South Carolina share
In the dark, road unlit45%37%about the same as the South Carolina share
A drinking driver15%32%below the South Carolina share
Speeding23%40%below the South Carolina share
A distracted driver (as recorded)2.1%5.0%about the same as the South Carolina share
Occupants killed unbelted46%53%about the same as the South Carolina share
Hit-and-run8.5%4.2%above the South Carolina share
A motorcycle involved16%16%about the same as the South Carolina share
Pedestrians among the dead38%16%above 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 US 501 in South Carolina

How many fatal crashes have there been on US 501 in South Carolina?
94 fatal crashes killed 98 people on US 501 in South Carolina from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 7 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
Where on US 501 in South Carolina do the most fatal crashes happen?
Horry County had the most fatal crashes on US 501 from 2015 to 2024: 70, with 73 deaths. Marion County was second with 22.

Other roads in South Carolina with a page

All fatal crashes in South Carolina, with every road ranked.

Where the US 501 numbers come from

Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 501 in South Carolina (filed under 8 spellings, such as "US-501", "US-501 CHURCH STREET", "US-501 FIVE CHOP RD", "US-501 HWY 501"). 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.