Fatal Crash Data

State Highway 70 in Florida: fatal crashes

From 2015 to 2024, 177 fatal crashes on State Highway 70 in Florida killed 211 people, the 19th most of 468 numbered roads in Florida. In 2024 there were 18 fatal crashes and 20 deaths on the road.

A state highway running through 5 counties of Florida. All fatal crashes in Florida.

Deaths on State Highway 70 in Florida by year

102030201620182020202220242022: 342024: 20
YearFatal crashesDeaths
20241820
20231515
20222434
20211316
20201718
20191621
20181721
20172125
20162122
20151519

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

Where on State Highway 70 in Florida: the counties with the most fatal crashes

Manatee County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 70 from 2015 to 2024: 75, with 81 deaths. Manatee, DeSoto and Highlands counties together held 76% of fatal crashes on State Highway 70 in Florida from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.

County20242015 to 2024Deaths
1Manatee County117581
2DeSoto County23342
3Highlands County12640
4St. Lucie County32427
5Okeechobee County11921

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 State Highway 70 in Florida

177 fatal crashes on State Highway 70 in Florida 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 pm to 2 pm; the worst month is June.

Share of fatal crashes on State Highway 70 in Florida 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
Sun2.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes4.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes4.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes
Mon1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes3.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes5.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes
Tue1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes3.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes
Wed1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes3.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes
Thu0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash4.5 percent, 8 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes
Fri0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes5.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 8 fatal crashes
Sat1.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash2.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes2.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes5.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes4.5 percent, 8 fatal crashes

By hour

By month

  • Jan6.2%
  • Feb7.9%
  • Mar9.6%
  • Apr7.3%
  • May7.9%
  • Jun11.3%
  • Jul6.8%
  • Aug7.9%
  • Sep6.8%
  • Oct10.2%
  • Nov10.2%
  • Dec7.9%

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

What fatal crashes on State Highway 70 in Florida first hit

The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 60%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 13%, a pedestrian in 12%, a cyclist in 8.5%.

First harmful eventFatal crashesShare
Collision with another vehicle10660%
Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch)2313%
Pedestrian2112%
Cyclist158.5%
Rollover74.0%
Other52.8%
Parked vehicle00.0%
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 State Highway 70 in Florida compare with the state

The largest difference from Florida: from 2015 to 2024, 59% of fatal crashes on State Highway 70 in Florida were on rural roads, against 24% across Florida. Also above the Florida share: unlit roads at night. Below it: speeding, unbelted occupants and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Florida. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 177 crashes.

State Highway 70Florida
On rural stretches59%24%above the Florida share
At or near an intersection35%35%about the same as the Florida share
In the dark, road unlit40%24%above the Florida share
A drinking driver24%21%about the same as the Florida share
Speeding4.0%9.8%below the Florida share
A distracted driver (as recorded)4.5%7.9%about the same as the Florida share
Occupants killed unbelted36%45%below the Florida share
Hit-and-run4.5%7.6%about the same as the Florida share
A motorcycle involved15%20%about the same as the Florida share
Pedestrians among the dead11%22%below the Florida 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 State Highway 70 in Florida

How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 70 in Florida?
177 fatal crashes killed 211 people on State Highway 70 in Florida from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 18 fatal crashes and 20 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
Where on State Highway 70 in Florida do the most fatal crashes happen?
Manatee County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 70 from 2015 to 2024: 75, with 81 deaths. DeSoto County was second with 33.

Other roads in Florida with a page

All fatal crashes in Florida, with every road ranked.

Where the State Highway 70 numbers come from

Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as State Highway 70 in Florida (filed under 7 spellings, such as "SR-70", "SR-70 15TH ST", "SR-70 53RD AVE/ONECO RD", "SR-70 E"). 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.