Fatal crashes in Lake County, Illinois
In 2024, 50 people died in 48 fatal crashes in Lake County, Illinois, 16.7% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 439 fatal crashes and 472 deaths, the 3rd most of 102 counties in Illinois.
7 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois in 2024; 6.7 against 9 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 718,604, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths in Lake County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 48 | 50 |
| 2023 | 57 | 60 |
| 2022 | 55 | 60 |
| 2021 | 36 | 37 |
| 2020 | 44 | 50 |
| 2019 | 35 | 43 |
| 2018 | 38 | 40 |
| 2017 | 45 | 46 |
| 2016 | 49 | 50 |
| 2015 | 32 | 36 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Lake County
US 41 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Lake County from 2015 to 2024: 32, with 33 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 50% of all fatal crashes in Lake County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 3 US routes, 11 state highways. 53% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 47% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 41 | 32 | 33 | 14 | |
| 2 | State Highway 131 | 24 | 27 | 11 | no page |
| 3 | US 12 | 22 | 25 | 8 | |
| 4 | I-94 | 22 | 24 | 6 | |
| 5 | State Highway 120 | 16 | 17 | 7 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 173 | 16 | 17 | 5 | no page |
| 7 | US 45 | 15 | 16 | 5 | |
| 8 | State Highway 137 | 15 | 15 | 7 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 83 | 14 | 15 | 4 | |
| 10 | State Highway 59 | 12 | 13 | 5 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 132 | 8 | 11 | 4 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 60 | 8 | 8 | 3 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 43 | 6 | 7 | 2 | |
| 14 | State Highway 176 | 6 | 6 | 0 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 21 | 5 | 6 | 2 | no page |
Waukegan had 14% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 63 of 439.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Waukegan 63, Gurnee 22, North Chicago 22, Zion 20, Round Lake Beach 14, Wadsworth 13, Wauconda 11, Libertyville 9. 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 Lake County
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 23 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 10 pm to 11 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 | 4.4 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 15 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 16 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.8 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 23 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.1 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 17 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.4%
- Feb5.7%
- Mar6.4%
- Apr7.7%
- May7.3%
- Jun8.0%
- Jul9.1%
- Aug8.4%
- Sep9.1%
- Oct12.3%
- Nov8.0%
- Dec9.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Lake County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 50%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 23%, a pedestrian in 16%, a cyclist in 3.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 219 | 50% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 99 | 23% |
| Pedestrian | 72 | 16% |
| Other | 21 | 4.8% |
| Cyclist | 15 | 3.4% |
| Rollover | 8 | 1.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 5 | 1.1% |
| 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 Lake County compare with Illinois
The largest difference from Illinois: from 2015 to 2024, 2.3% of fatal crashes in Lake County were on rural roads, against 34% across Illinois. Also above the Illinois share: intersections and drinking drivers. Below it: distracted drivers and unbelted occupants. 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 439 crashes.
| Lake | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 2.3% | 34% | below the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 38% | 30% | above the Illinois share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 25% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A drinking driver | 33% | 27% | above the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 34% | 37% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.4% | 9.8% | below the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 41% | 46% | below the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 9.3% | 8.4% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 14% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 17% | 16% | about the same as 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 Lake County, Illinois
- How many people died in car accidents in Lake County in 2024?
- 50 people died in 48 fatal crashes in Lake County, Illinois, in 2024, 16.7% fewer than in 2023. That is 7 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Lake County?
- US 41 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Lake County from 2015 to 2024: 32, with 33 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Lake County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 23 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Lake County involved a drinking driver?
- 145 of 439 fatal crashes in Lake County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 33%, against 27% across Illinois.
Other counties in Illinois with a page
- Cook County
- Will County
- DuPage County
- St. Clair County
- Madison County
- Kane County
- Winnebago County
- Sangamon County
- McHenry County
- LaSalle County
- Peoria County
- Kankakee County
All fatal crashes in Illinois, with every county ranked.
Where the Lake County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Lake County (county code 97). 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/lake-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”