Fatal crashes in McHenry County, Illinois
In 2024, 27 people died in 24 fatal crashes in McHenry County, Illinois, up from 10 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 196 fatal crashes and 228 deaths, the 10th most of 102 counties in Illinois.
8.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois in 2024; 7.4 against 9 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 315,959, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths in McHenry County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24 | 27 |
| 2023 | 10 | 10 |
| 2022 | 18 | 26 |
| 2021 | 19 | 21 |
| 2020 | 20 | 23 |
| 2019 | 21 | 21 |
| 2018 | 19 | 23 |
| 2017 | 27 | 33 |
| 2016 | 23 | 26 |
| 2015 | 15 | 18 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in McHenry County
US 14 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in McHenry County from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 19 deaths. The 7 roads listed held 39% of all fatal crashes in McHenry County from 2015 to 2024; 1 US route, 6 state highways. 46% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 54% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 14 | 18 | 19 | 7 | |
| 2 | State Highway 31 | 13 | 15 | 3 | no page |
| 3 | State Highway 176 | 12 | 13 | 4 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 173 | 11 | 11 | 3 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 120 | 10 | 10 | 3 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 47 | 7 | 8 | 2 | |
| 7 | State Highway 23 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
Woodstock had 5.6% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 11 of 196.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Woodstock 11, Crystal Lake 10, Mchenry 10, Spring Grove 8, Algonquin 7, Lake In The Hills 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 McHenry County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 4 to 8 pm, with 11 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 7 pm to 8 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.1 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.1%
- Feb7.7%
- Mar5.1%
- Apr4.6%
- May11.2%
- Jun10.7%
- Jul10.2%
- Aug11.7%
- Sep11.7%
- Oct9.7%
- Nov7.7%
- Dec5.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in McHenry County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 45%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 32%, a pedestrian in 11%, a rollover in 5.6%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 88 | 45% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 62 | 32% |
| Pedestrian | 22 | 11% |
| Rollover | 11 | 5.6% |
| Other | 10 | 5.1% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 1.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 McHenry County compare with Illinois
The largest difference from Illinois: from 2015 to 2024, 42% of fatal crashes in McHenry County were with a drinking driver, against 27% across Illinois. Also above the Illinois share: motorcycles. Below it: unbelted occupants, hit-and-runs 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 196 crashes.
| McHenry | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 35% | 34% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 33% | 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 | 42% | 27% | above the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 35% | 37% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.7% | 9.8% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 36% | 46% | below the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.6% | 8.4% | below the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 20% | 14% | above the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 10% | 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 McHenry County, Illinois
- How many people died in car accidents in McHenry County in 2024?
- 27 people died in 24 fatal crashes in McHenry County, Illinois, in 2024, up from 10 in 2023. That is 8.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in McHenry County?
- US 14 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in McHenry County from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 19 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in McHenry County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 4 to 8 pm, with 11 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in McHenry County involved a drinking driver?
- 82 of 196 fatal crashes in McHenry County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 42%, 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
- LaSalle County
- Peoria County
- Kankakee County
All fatal crashes in Illinois, with every county ranked.
Where the McHenry County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in McHenry County (county code 111). 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/mchenry-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”