I-55 in Illinois: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 251 fatal crashes on I-55 in Illinois killed 285 people, the most of any numbered road in Illinois. In 2024 there were 29 fatal crashes and 29 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 15 counties of Illinois. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths on I-55 in Illinois by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 27 | 30 |
| 2016 | 21 | 23 |
| 2017 | 24 | 28 |
| 2018 | 22 | 25 |
| 2019 | 23 | 25 |
| 2020 | 26 | 28 |
| 2021 | 25 | 34 |
| 2022 | 28 | 31 |
| 2023 | 26 | 32 |
| 2024 | 29 | 29 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-55 in Illinois: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Will County had the most fatal crashes on I-55 from 2015 to 2024: 60, with 65 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Will | 5 | 60 | 65 |
| 2 | Cook | 6 | 47 | 54 |
| 3 | Mclean | 3 | 25 | 27 |
| 4 | Sangamon | 3 | 24 | 24 |
| 5 | Madison | 2 | 17 | 24 |
| 6 | Dupage | 2 | 16 | 16 |
| 7 | Montgomery | 1 | 15 | 21 |
| 8 | Logan | 2 | 12 | 16 |
| 9 | Livingston | 1 | 12 | 14 |
| 10 | St. Clair | 2 | 10 | 10 |
| 11 | Grundy | 2 | 9 | 9 |
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-55 in Illinois
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 16 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 1 am to 2 am; the worst month is November.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 6.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 4.4 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 3.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.8 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan10.4%
- Feb5.2%
- Mar4.0%
- Apr7.6%
- May8.4%
- Jun8.0%
- Jul10.0%
- Aug8.8%
- Sep10.0%
- Oct8.8%
- Nov12.7%
- Dec6.4%
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-55 in Illinois first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 110 | 44% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 72 | 29% |
| Rollover | 23 | 9.2% |
| Pedestrian | 20 | 8.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 12 | 4.8% |
| Other | 12 | 4.8% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 0.4% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.4% |
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-55 in Illinois compare with the state
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Illinois. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-55 | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 32% | 34% | below the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 1.2% | 30% | below the Illinois share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 25% | above the Illinois share |
| A drinking driver | 30% | 27% | above the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 53% | 37% | above the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 44% | 46% | below the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.0% | 8.4% | below the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 8.0% | 14% | below the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 8.8% | 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
Other roads in Illinois with a page
All fatal crashes in Illinois, with every road ranked.
Where the I-55 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-55 in Illinois (filed under 40 spellings, such as "I- 55", "I-55", "I-55 (I-70)(US-40)", "I-55 (STEVENSON EXPWY)"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.