Fatal crashes in New Castle County, Delaware
In 2024, 61 people died in 58 fatal crashes in New Castle County, Delaware, 3.4% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 580 fatal crashes and 623 deaths, the most of any county in Delaware.
10.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 12 across Delaware in 2024; 11 against 13 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 588,093, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Delaware.
Deaths in New Castle County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 58 | 61 |
| 2023 | 57 | 59 |
| 2022 | 72 | 84 |
| 2021 | 67 | 70 |
| 2020 | 56 | 62 |
| 2019 | 54 | 58 |
| 2018 | 47 | 54 |
| 2017 | 56 | 59 |
| 2016 | 52 | 53 |
| 2015 | 61 | 63 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in New Castle County
US 13 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in New Castle County from 2015 to 2024: 65, with 70 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 60% of all fatal crashes in New Castle County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 5 US routes, 8 state highways. 71% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 29% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 13 | 65 | 70 | 26 | |
| 2 | I-95 | 48 | 52 | 13 | no page |
| 3 | US 40 | 36 | 37 | 12 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 4 | 29 | 29 | 13 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 1 | 27 | 34 | 7 | |
| 6 | I-495 | 24 | 29 | 13 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 2 | 21 | 22 | 4 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 9 | 20 | 22 | 6 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 273 | 17 | 20 | 5 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 7 | 14 | 14 | 4 | no page |
| 11 | US 13B | 11 | 11 | 0 | no page |
| 12 | US 202 | 11 | 11 | 1 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 141 | 9 | 9 | 1 | no page |
| 14 | US 301 | 9 | 9 | 0 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 71 | 8 | 8 | 4 | no page |
Wilmington had 7.9% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 46 of 580.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Wilmington 46, New Castle 33, Newark 31, Middletown 10, Newport 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 New Castle County
The heaviest slot is Wednesday, 8 pm to midnight, with 29 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 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 | 4.3 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 23 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.2 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 17 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 20 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.2 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 29 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.4 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 29 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.0 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 28 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.6%
- Feb6.7%
- Mar7.6%
- Apr7.6%
- May9.8%
- Jun5.5%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug8.3%
- Sep12.1%
- Oct9.8%
- Nov8.6%
- Dec8.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in New Castle County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 43%; a pedestrian in 31%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 17%, a rollover in 2.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 248 | 43% |
| Pedestrian | 177 | 31% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 99 | 17% |
| Other | 21 | 3.6% |
| Rollover | 14 | 2.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 11 | 1.9% |
| Cyclist | 10 | 1.7% |
| 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 New Castle County compare with Delaware
The largest difference from Delaware: from 2015 to 2024, 15% of fatal crashes in New Castle County were on rural roads, against 41% across Delaware. Also above the Delaware share: pedestrians. Below it: distracted drivers. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Delaware. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 580 crashes.
| New Castle | Delaware | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 15% | 41% | below the Delaware share |
| At or near an intersection | 34% | 32% | about the same as the Delaware share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 36% | 38% | about the same as the Delaware share |
| A drinking driver | 24% | 25% | about the same as the Delaware share |
| Speeding | 28% | 29% | about the same as the Delaware share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.0% | 6.6% | below the Delaware share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 47% | 47% | about the same as the Delaware share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.1% | 7.1% | about the same as the Delaware share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 14% | about the same as the Delaware share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 30% | 23% | above the Delaware 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 New Castle County, Delaware
- How many people died in car accidents in New Castle County in 2024?
- 61 people died in 58 fatal crashes in New Castle County, Delaware, in 2024, 3.4% more than in 2023. That is 10.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 12 across Delaware. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in New Castle County?
- US 13 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in New Castle County from 2015 to 2024: 65, with 70 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in New Castle County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Wednesday, 8 pm to midnight, with 29 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in New Castle County involved a drinking driver?
- 141 of 580 fatal crashes in New Castle County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 24%, against 25% across Delaware.
Other counties in Delaware with a page
All fatal crashes in Delaware, with every county ranked.
Where the New Castle County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in New Castle County (county code 3). 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/delaware/new-castle-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”