US 51 in Illinois: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 68 fatal crashes on US 51 in Illinois killed 74 people. In 2024 there were 6 fatal crashes and 8 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 13 counties of Illinois. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths on US 51 in Illinois by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 6 | 6 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 |
| 2017 | 7 | 8 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 | 5 |
| 2022 | 8 | 9 |
| 2023 | 9 | 9 |
| 2024 | 6 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 51 in Illinois: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Jackson County had the most fatal crashes on US 51 from 2015 to 2024: 12, with 13 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson | 0 | 12 | 13 |
| 2 | Mclean | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| 3 | Macon | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| 4 | Shelby | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | Union | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | Washington | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | Fayette | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 8 | Marion | 0 | 5 | 5 |
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 51 in Illinois
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 8.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 7.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 7.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.9%
- Feb4.4%
- Mar10.3%
- Apr8.8%
- May10.3%
- Jun8.8%
- Jul10.3%
- Aug7.4%
- Sep10.3%
- Oct7.4%
- Nov10.3%
- Dec5.9%
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 51 in Illinois first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 36 | 53% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 17 | 25% |
| Pedestrian | 8 | 12% |
| Other | 4 | 5.9% |
| Rollover | 3 | 4.4% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 51 in Illinois compare with the state
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Illinois. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 51 | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 60% | 34% | above the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 34% | 30% | above the Illinois share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 28% | 25% | above the Illinois share |
| A drinking driver | 25% | 27% | below the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 22% | 37% | below the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 50% | 46% | above the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.4% | 8.4% | below the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 14% | about the same as the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 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
Other roads in Illinois with a page
All fatal crashes in Illinois, with every road ranked.
Where the US 51 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 51 in Illinois (filed under 20 spellings, such as "US-51", "US-51 (BLOOMINGTON RD)", "US-51 (ELM ST)", "US-51 BROADWAY ST"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.