Fatal crashes in Will County, Illinois
In 2024, 58 people died in 54 fatal crashes in Will County, 38.1% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 508 fatal crashes and 563 deaths, the 2nd most of any county in Illinois.
8.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois in 2024; 8.1 against 9 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 708,583, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Illinois.
Deaths in Will County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 54 | 58 |
| 2023 | 36 | 42 |
| 2022 | 59 | 65 |
| 2021 | 60 | 70 |
| 2020 | 57 | 61 |
| 2019 | 54 | 54 |
| 2018 | 52 | 58 |
| 2017 | 47 | 59 |
| 2016 | 42 | 45 |
| 2015 | 47 | 51 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Will County
I-55 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Will County from 2015 to 2024: 60, with 65 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 50% of all fatal crashes in Will County from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 4 US routes, 7 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes with 5 or more fatal crashes in the county; county roads and city streets are in the county's total but not listed.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-55 | 60 | 65 | 18 | |
| 2 | I-80 | 40 | 46 | 7 | |
| 3 | State Highway 53 | 26 | 28 | 7 | |
| 4 | US 30 | 23 | 25 | 9 | |
| 5 | US 52 | 16 | 20 | 3 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 171 | 13 | 15 | 4 | |
| 7 | State Highway 7 | 13 | 14 | 6 | no page |
| 8 | US 6 | 12 | 13 | 3 | |
| 9 | US 45 | 10 | 11 | 4 | |
| 10 | I-57 | 9 | 12 | 2 | |
| 11 | State Highway 1 | 8 | 10 | 1 | |
| 12 | State Highway 394 | 8 | 10 | 2 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 50 | 7 | 11 | 2 | |
| 14 | I-355 | 5 | 5 | 2 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 59 | 5 | 5 | 1 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Joliet 77, Bolingbrook 26, Lockport 18, Romeoville 14, Crest Hill 13, Plainfield 11, Naperville 9, New Lenox 7. 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 Will County
The heaviest slot is Thursday, 4 to 8 pm, with 25 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 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 | 3.7 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 16 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 24 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.8 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.1%
- Feb6.1%
- Mar8.9%
- Apr6.1%
- May9.3%
- Jun9.8%
- Jul8.9%
- Aug10.0%
- Sep9.1%
- Oct9.3%
- Nov7.3%
- Dec8.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Will 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 26%, a pedestrian in 12%, a rollover in 5.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 254 | 50% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 130 | 26% |
| Pedestrian | 61 | 12% |
| Rollover | 29 | 5.7% |
| Other | 21 | 4.1% |
| Cyclist | 7 | 1.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 6 | 1.2% |
| 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 Will County compare with Illinois
A drinking driver was recorded in 30% of fatal crashes in Will County from 2015 to 2024, above the Illinois share of 27%; speeding in 43%, above the Illinois share of 37%; a hit-and-run in 5.7%, below the Illinois share of 8.4%; a driver recorded as distracted in 6.9%, below the Illinois share of 9.8%; 43% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Illinois share of 46%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Illinois. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Will | Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 13% | 34% | below the Illinois share |
| At or near an intersection | 29% | 30% | below the Illinois share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 27% | 25% | above the Illinois share |
| A drinking driver | 30% | 27% | above the Illinois share |
| Speeding | 43% | 37% | above the Illinois share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.9% | 9.8% | below the Illinois share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 43% | 46% | below the Illinois share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.7% | 8.4% | below the Illinois share |
| A motorcycle involved | 19% | 14% | above the Illinois share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 12% | 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 Will County
- How many people died in car accidents in Will County in 2024?
- 58 people died in 54 fatal crashes in Will County, Illinois, in 2024, 38.1% more than in 2023. That is 8.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.3 across Illinois.
- What is the deadliest road in Will County?
- I-55 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Will County from 2015 to 2024: 60, with 65 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Will County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Thursday, 4 to 8 pm, with 25 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Will County involved a drinking driver?
- 152 of 508 fatal crashes in Will County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 30%, against 27% across Illinois.
Other counties in Illinois with a page
- Cook County
- Lake 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 Will County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Will County (county code 197). 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. The full method.