I-78: fatal crashes in every state
From 2015 to 2024, 138 fatal crashes on I-78 killed 157 people across the 2 states it runs through, the 59th most of 69 interstates. In 2024 there were 14 fatal crashes and 18 deaths on the road.
146 miles in all; 9.5 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles. All interstates ranked.
I-78 by state: fatal crashes, deaths and per mile
New Jersey has the most fatal crashes on I-78, 87 from 2015 to 2024. Each state's stretch is counted within that state; the per-mile figure needs 20 miles or more of road.
| State | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2024 | Miles | Per 100 miles a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-78 in New Jersey | 87 | 93 | 10 | 68 | 12.8 |
| 2 | I-78 in Pennsylvania | 51 | 64 | 4 | 78 | 6.6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every interstate in every state it crosses as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/deadliest-roads/i-78/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS.
Deaths on I-78 by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 | 18 |
| 2023 | 10 | 10 |
| 2022 | 12 | 14 |
| 2021 | 19 | 22 |
| 2020 | 17 | 18 |
| 2019 | 11 | 12 |
| 2018 | 8 | 9 |
| 2017 | 16 | 17 |
| 2016 | 14 | 17 |
| 2015 | 17 | 20 |
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-78
The heaviest slot is Tuesday, 8 pm to midnight, with 10 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 6 am to 7 am; 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 | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.2 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.0%
- Feb6.5%
- Mar8.0%
- Apr8.7%
- May8.7%
- Jun7.2%
- Jul13.0%
- Aug8.7%
- Sep8.0%
- Oct6.5%
- Nov7.2%
- Dec9.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on I-78 first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 38%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 30%, a parked vehicle in 12%, a pedestrian in 8.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 52 | 38% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 42 | 30% |
| Parked vehicle | 17 | 12% |
| Pedestrian | 11 | 8.0% |
| Rollover | 9 | 6.5% |
| Other | 5 | 3.6% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 1.4% |
| 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-78 compare with the United States
A drinking driver was recorded in 15% of fatal crashes on I-78 from 2015 to 2024, below the US share of 26%; speeding in 26%, about the US share; a hit-and-run in 1.4%, below the US share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 23%, above the US share of 8.7%; 47% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, about the US share. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all US roads.
| I-78 | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 30% | 43% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 36% | 28% | above the US share |
| A drinking driver | 15% | 26% | below the US share |
| Speeding | 26% | 27% | about the same as the US share |
| A distracted driver | 23% | 8.7% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 47% | 49% | about the same as the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.4% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 4.3% | 16% | below the US share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 13% | 17% | about the same as the US 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-78
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-78?
- 138 fatal crashes killed 157 people on I-78 from 2015 to 2024, across the 2 states it runs through. In 2024 there were 14 fatal crashes and 18 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Which state has the most fatal crashes on I-78?
- New Jersey, with 87 fatal crashes and 93 deaths from 2015 to 2024; Pennsylvania is second with 51. Per mile, New Jersey's stretch has 12.8 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles.
- How dangerous is I-78 per mile?
- 9.5 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 146 miles of road. That is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic. By fatal crashes, I-78 ranks 59th of 69 interstates on this site.
- When do fatal crashes on I-78 happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Tuesday, 8 pm to midnight, with 10 fatal crashes.
Other interstates
- I-10 3,274
- I-95 2,778
- I-40 2,208
- I-75 2,062
- I-20 1,789
- I-80 1,774
- I-5 1,745
- I-70 1,354
- I-35 1,241
- I-15 1,188
- I-90 996
- I-85 922
The deadliest roads in America, every interstate ranked.
Where the I-78 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-78, in every state, with ramps, frontage and service roads 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. The full method.