Fatal crashes in St. Clair County, Illinois
In 2024, 45 people died in 40 fatal crashes in St. Clair County, Illinois, 25.0% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 346 fatal crashes and 371 deaths, the 5th most of 102 counties in Illinois.
17.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois in 2024; 14.4 against 9 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 251,149, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths in St. Clair County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 40 | 45 |
| 2023 | 36 | 36 |
| 2022 | 46 | 47 |
| 2021 | 34 | 40 |
| 2020 | 32 | 32 |
| 2019 | 25 | 26 |
| 2018 | 30 | 30 |
| 2017 | 32 | 36 |
| 2016 | 37 | 40 |
| 2015 | 34 | 39 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in St. Clair County
I-64 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in St. Clair County from 2015 to 2024: 27, with 30 deaths. The 12 roads listed held 54% of all fatal crashes in St. Clair County from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 1 US route, 8 state highways. 58% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 42% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-64 | 27 | 30 | 6 | no page |
| 2 | State Highway 3 | 26 | 27 | 10 | |
| 3 | State Highway 161 | 20 | 21 | 8 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 158 | 18 | 21 | 5 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 15 | 17 | 20 | 7 | |
| 6 | State Highway 13 | 14 | 16 | 4 | |
| 7 | I-255 | 14 | 15 | 7 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 157 | 13 | 13 | 5 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 159 | 11 | 13 | 5 | no page |
| 10 | I-55 | 10 | 10 | 3 | |
| 11 | US 50 | 10 | 10 | 4 | |
| 12 | State Highway 4 | 7 | 7 | 1 | no page |
Belleville had 9.2% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 32 of 346.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Belleville 32, East Saint Louis 30, Cahokia 24, East St Louis 16, Centreville 15, Fairview Heights 13, Sauget 10, O'Fallon 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 St. Clair County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 21 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 | 6.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 4.6 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.9 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 14 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.1%
- Feb7.2%
- Mar8.1%
- Apr7.2%
- May7.5%
- Jun7.2%
- Jul8.1%
- Aug7.5%
- Sep9.8%
- Oct13.0%
- Nov8.1%
- Dec8.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in St. Clair County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 38%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 31%, a pedestrian in 19%, a rollover in 5.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 133 | 38% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 107 | 31% |
| Pedestrian | 67 | 19% |
| Rollover | 20 | 5.8% |
| Other | 11 | 3.2% |
| Cyclist | 6 | 1.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 0.6% |
| 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 St. Clair County compare with Illinois
The largest difference from Illinois: from 2015 to 2024, 16% of fatal crashes in St. Clair County were on rural roads, against 34% across Illinois. Also above the Illinois share: unlit roads at night, drinking drivers, unbelted occupants and hit-and-runs. Below it: intersections and distracted drivers. 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 346 crashes.
| St. Clair | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 16% | 34% | below the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 21% | 30% | below the Illinois share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 31% | 25% | above the Illinois share |
| A drinking driver | 33% | 27% | above the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 38% | 37% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.6% | 9.8% | below the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 53% | 46% | above the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 13% | 8.4% | above the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 11% | 14% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 19% | 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 St. Clair County, Illinois
- How many people died in car accidents in St. Clair County in 2024?
- 45 people died in 40 fatal crashes in St. Clair County, Illinois, in 2024, 25.0% more than in 2023. That is 17.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in St. Clair County?
- I-64 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in St. Clair County from 2015 to 2024: 27, with 30 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in St. Clair County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 21 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in St. Clair County involved a drinking driver?
- 114 of 346 fatal crashes in St. Clair 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
- Lake County
- DuPage 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 St. Clair County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in St. Clair County (county code 163). 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/st-clair-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”