US 45 in Illinois: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 130 fatal crashes on US 45 in Illinois killed 148 people, the 4th most of 212 numbered roads in Illinois. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 14 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 17 counties of Illinois. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths on US 45 in Illinois by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | 14 |
| 2023 | 17 | 18 |
| 2022 | 19 | 22 |
| 2021 | 8 | 8 |
| 2020 | 8 | 9 |
| 2019 | 13 | 16 |
| 2018 | 19 | 22 |
| 2017 | 7 | 9 |
| 2016 | 16 | 19 |
| 2015 | 10 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 45 in Illinois: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Kankakee County had the most fatal crashes on US 45 from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 20 deaths. Kankakee, Champaign and Saline counties together held 38% of fatal crashes on US 45 in Illinois from 2015 to 2024; the 10 listed held 88%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kankakee County | 1 | 18 | 20 |
| 2 | Champaign County | 1 | 16 | 19 |
| 3 | Saline County | 3 | 16 | 17 |
| 4 | Lake County | 1 | 15 | 16 |
| 5 | Cook County | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| 6 | Iroquois County | 1 | 10 | 15 |
| 7 | Will County | 0 | 10 | 11 |
| 8 | Coles County | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| 9 | Wayne County | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 10 | Massac County | 0 | 5 | 7 |
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 US 45 in Illinois
The heaviest slot is Sunday, 4 to 8 pm, with 13 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 4 pm to 5 pm; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 10.0 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 7.7 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.2%
- Feb3.8%
- Mar6.2%
- Apr8.5%
- May13.1%
- Jun6.9%
- Jul8.5%
- Aug7.7%
- Sep12.3%
- Oct8.5%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec6.9%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 45 in Illinois first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 57%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 19%, a pedestrian in 12%, a rollover in 4.6%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 74 | 57% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 24 | 19% |
| Pedestrian | 15 | 12% |
| Other | 7 | 5.4% |
| Rollover | 6 | 4.6% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 3.1% |
| 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 on US 45 in Illinois compare with the state
The largest difference from Illinois: from 2015 to 2024, 47% of fatal crashes on US 45 in Illinois were on rural roads, against 34% across Illinois. Below the Illinois share: drinking drivers, 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 130 crashes.
| US 45 | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 47% | 34% | above the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 31% | 30% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 25% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 27% | below the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 33% | 37% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.6% | 9.8% | below the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 35% | 46% | below the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.6% | 8.4% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 13% | 14% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 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 on US 45 in Illinois
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 45 in Illinois?
- 130 fatal crashes killed 148 people on US 45 in Illinois from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 14 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 45 in Illinois do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Kankakee County had the most fatal crashes on US 45 from 2015 to 2024: 18, with 20 deaths. Champaign County was second with 16.
- When do fatal crashes on US 45 in Illinois happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, 4 to 8 pm, with 13 fatal crashes.
Other roads in Illinois with a page
All fatal crashes in Illinois, with every road ranked.
Where the US 45 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 45 in Illinois (filed under 40 spellings, such as "US- 45", "US- 45 TO NB 57", "US-45", "US-45 (LAGRANGE RD)"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.