Fatal crashes in Kankakee County, Illinois
In 2024, 23 people died in 19 fatal crashes in Kankakee County, Illinois, up from 14 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 156 fatal crashes and 166 deaths, the 13th most of 102 counties in Illinois.
21.6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois in 2024; 15.3 against 9 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 106,410, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths in Kankakee County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19 | 23 |
| 2023 | 13 | 14 |
| 2022 | 14 | 15 |
| 2021 | 18 | 19 |
| 2020 | 15 | 15 |
| 2019 | 18 | 18 |
| 2018 | 12 | 12 |
| 2017 | 17 | 18 |
| 2016 | 21 | 23 |
| 2015 | 9 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Kankakee County
State Highway 17 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Kankakee County from 2015 to 2024: 23, with 25 deaths. The 6 roads listed held 54% of all fatal crashes in Kankakee County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 US route, 4 state highways. 59% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 41% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 17 | 23 | 25 | 11 | no page |
| 2 | US 45 | 18 | 20 | 6 | |
| 3 | State Highway 1 | 14 | 16 | 4 | |
| 4 | I-57 | 13 | 14 | 4 | |
| 5 | State Highway 50 | 10 | 11 | 4 | |
| 6 | State Highway 113 | 6 | 6 | 1 | no page |
Kankakee had 13% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 20 of 156.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Kankakee 20, Bourbonnais 7, Bradley 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 Kankakee County
155 fatal crashes in Kankakee 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 5 pm to 6 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 | 5.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.1%
- Feb5.1%
- Mar5.8%
- Apr5.8%
- May10.9%
- Jun10.9%
- Jul8.3%
- Aug11.5%
- Sep12.2%
- Oct9.6%
- Nov5.8%
- Dec7.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Kankakee County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 49%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 28%, a pedestrian in 9.0%, a rollover in 6.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 77 | 49% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 44 | 28% |
| Pedestrian | 14 | 9.0% |
| Rollover | 10 | 6.4% |
| Other | 7 | 4.5% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 1.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.6% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.6% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Kankakee County compare with Illinois
The largest difference from Illinois: from 2015 to 2024, 66% of fatal crashes in Kankakee County were on rural roads, against 34% across Illinois. Also above the Illinois share: unlit roads at night and drinking drivers. Below it: distracted drivers, unbelted occupants and 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 156 crashes.
| Kankakee | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 66% | 34% | above the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 30% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 38% | 25% | above the Illinois share |
| A drinking driver | 35% | 27% | above the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 30% | 37% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.2% | 9.8% | below the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 33% | 46% | below the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.1% | 8.4% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 14% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.0% | 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 Kankakee County, Illinois
- How many people died in car accidents in Kankakee County in 2024?
- 23 people died in 19 fatal crashes in Kankakee County, Illinois, in 2024, up from 14 in 2023. That is 21.6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Kankakee County?
- State Highway 17 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Kankakee County from 2015 to 2024: 23, with 25 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Kankakee County involved a drinking driver?
- 54 of 156 fatal crashes in Kankakee County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 35%, 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 Kankakee County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Kankakee County (county code 91). 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/kankakee-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”