Fatal crashes in Coles County, Illinois
In 2024, 12 people died in 10 fatal crashes in Coles County, Illinois, up from 5 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 66 fatal crashes and 74 deaths, the 32nd most of 102 counties in Illinois.
25.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois in 2024; 15.1 against 9 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 46,423, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths in Coles County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 12 |
| 2023 | 3 | 5 |
| 2022 | 7 | 8 |
| 2021 | 8 | 8 |
| 2020 | 8 | 11 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2017 | 11 | 11 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 |
| 2015 | 4 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Numbered roads with fatal crashes in Coles County
The 4 roads listed held 42% of all fatal crashes in Coles County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 US route, 2 state highways. 44% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 56% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 16 | 8 | 8 | 2 | no page |
| 2 | I-57 | 7 | 10 | 2 | |
| 3 | US 45 | 7 | 7 | 4 | |
| 4 | State Highway 130 | 6 | 9 | 3 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Charleston 8, Mattoon 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 Coles County
66 fatal crashes in Coles County, Illinois 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 4 pm to 5 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan1.5%
- Feb3.0%
- Mar7.6%
- Apr9.1%
- May10.6%
- Jun12.1%
- Jul7.6%
- Aug9.1%
- Sep12.1%
- Oct13.6%
- Nov7.6%
- Dec6.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Coles County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 47%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a pedestrian in 6.1%, a cyclist in 4.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 31 | 47% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 18 | 27% |
| Other | 5 | 7.6% |
| Pedestrian | 4 | 6.1% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 4.5% |
| Rollover | 3 | 4.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 3.0% |
| 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 Coles County compare with Illinois
The largest difference from Illinois: from 2015 to 2024, 62% of fatal crashes in Coles County were on rural roads, against 34% across Illinois. Below the Illinois share: pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Illinois. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 66 crashes.
| Coles | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 62% | 34% | above the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 36% | 30% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 27% | 25% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A drinking driver | 27% | 27% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 38% | 37% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.0% | 9.8% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 44% | 46% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.5% | 8.4% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 20% | 14% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 5.4% | 16% | below the Illinois 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 Coles County, Illinois
- How many people died in car accidents in Coles County in 2024?
- 12 people died in 10 fatal crashes in Coles County, Illinois, in 2024, up from 5 in 2023. That is 25.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- How many fatal crashes in Coles County involved a drinking driver?
- 18 of 66 fatal crashes in Coles County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 27%, against 27% across Illinois.
Other counties in Illinois with a page
- Cook County
- Will County
- Lake County
- DuPage County
- St. Clair County
- Madison County
- Kane County
- Winnebago County
- Sangamon County
- McHenry County
- LaSalle County
- Peoria County
All fatal crashes in Illinois, with every county ranked.
Where the Coles County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Coles County (county code 29). 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/illinois/coles-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”