Fatal crashes in Chatham County, Georgia
In 2024, 29 people died in 28 fatal crashes in Chatham County, Georgia, 25.6% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 345 fatal crashes and 376 deaths, the 6th most of 159 counties in Georgia.
9.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 12.5 across Georgia in 2024; 12.8 against 14.8 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 307,336, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Georgia.
Deaths in Chatham County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28 | 29 |
| 2023 | 38 | 39 |
| 2022 | 38 | 40 |
| 2021 | 35 | 40 |
| 2020 | 32 | 34 |
| 2019 | 29 | 30 |
| 2018 | 33 | 37 |
| 2017 | 26 | 29 |
| 2016 | 38 | 44 |
| 2015 | 48 | 54 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Chatham County
State Highway 204 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Chatham County from 2015 to 2024: 37, with 43 deaths. The 10 roads listed held 52% of all fatal crashes in Chatham County from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 2 US routes, 5 state highways. 54% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 46% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 204 | 37 | 43 | 5 | no page |
| 2 | I-95 | 30 | 35 | 12 | |
| 3 | I-16 | 26 | 34 | 5 | |
| 4 | State Highway 25 | 18 | 19 | 9 | |
| 5 | US 80 | 16 | 16 | 6 | |
| 6 | I-516 | 15 | 17 | 3 | no page |
| 7 | US 17 | 15 | 15 | 7 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 21 | 9 | 10 | 2 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 26 | 7 | 9 | 2 | |
| 10 | State Highway 307 | 6 | 6 | 0 | no page |
Savannah had 48% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 165 of 345.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Savannah 165, Pooler 36, Garden City 14, Port Wentworth 11, Bloomingdale 7. 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 Chatham County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 24 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is December.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 7.0 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.0%
- Feb6.4%
- Mar9.3%
- Apr7.5%
- May8.1%
- Jun7.8%
- Jul7.2%
- Aug10.4%
- Sep5.5%
- Oct7.5%
- Nov9.3%
- Dec11.9%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Chatham County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 34%; a pedestrian in 26%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 25%, a cyclist in 5.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 117 | 34% |
| Pedestrian | 90 | 26% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 86 | 25% |
| Cyclist | 19 | 5.5% |
| Rollover | 15 | 4.3% |
| Other | 13 | 3.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 5 | 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 in Chatham County compare with Georgia
The largest difference from Georgia: from 2015 to 2024, 3.5% of fatal crashes in Chatham County were on rural roads, against 36% across Georgia. Also above the Georgia share: hit-and-runs, motorcycles and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Georgia. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 345 crashes.
| Chatham | Georgia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 3.5% | 36% | below the Georgia share |
| At or near an intersection | 28% | 24% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 40% | 37% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| A drinking driver | 22% | 20% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| Speeding | 23% | 19% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.1% | 4.2% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 51% | 49% | about the same as the Georgia share |
| Hit-and-run | 9.9% | 5.3% | above the Georgia share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 12% | above the Georgia share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 26% | 17% | above the Georgia 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 Chatham County, Georgia
- How many people died in car accidents in Chatham County in 2024?
- 29 people died in 28 fatal crashes in Chatham County, Georgia, in 2024, 25.6% fewer than in 2023. That is 9.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 12.5 across Georgia. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Chatham County?
- State Highway 204 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Chatham County from 2015 to 2024: 37, with 43 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Chatham County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 24 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Chatham County involved a drinking driver?
- 75 of 345 fatal crashes in Chatham County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 22%, against 20% across Georgia.
Other counties in Georgia with a page
- Fulton County
- DeKalb County
- Cobb County
- Gwinnett County
- Clayton County
- Bibb County
- Richmond County
- Henry County
- Hall County
- Bartow County
- Muscogee County
- Carroll County
All fatal crashes in Georgia, with every county ranked.
Where the Chatham County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Chatham County (county code 51). 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/georgia/chatham-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”