Fatal crashes in St. Joseph County, Indiana
In 2024, 23 people died in 23 fatal crashes in St. Joseph County, Indiana, 25.8% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 235 fatal crashes and 259 deaths, the 5th most of 92 counties in Indiana.
8.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 12 across Indiana in 2024; 9.5 against 13 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 273,744, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Indiana.
Deaths in St. Joseph County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23 | 23 |
| 2023 | 28 | 31 |
| 2022 | 23 | 26 |
| 2021 | 30 | 31 |
| 2020 | 27 | 32 |
| 2019 | 25 | 27 |
| 2018 | 21 | 28 |
| 2017 | 24 | 27 |
| 2016 | 22 | 22 |
| 2015 | 12 | 12 |
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. Joseph County
State Highway 23 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in St. Joseph County from 2015 to 2024: 17, with 17 deaths. The 5 roads listed held 29% of all fatal crashes in St. Joseph County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 US route, 3 state highways. 41% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 59% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 23 | 17 | 17 | 7 | no page |
| 2 | US 20 | 14 | 16 | 6 | |
| 3 | I-80 | 12 | 18 | 5 | |
| 4 | State Highway 2 | 12 | 14 | 5 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 933 | 12 | 13 | 5 | no page |
South Bend had 39% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 92 of 235.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: South Bend 92, Mishawaka 41, Osceola 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 St. Joseph County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 11 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 7 pm to 8 pm; the worst month is June.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.3 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.4%
- Feb6.4%
- Mar4.7%
- Apr4.3%
- May9.4%
- Jun13.2%
- Jul9.8%
- Aug9.8%
- Sep8.1%
- Oct11.5%
- Nov6.0%
- Dec10.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in St. Joseph County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 44%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 26%, a pedestrian in 14%, a cyclist in 4.3%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 104 | 44% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 60 | 26% |
| Pedestrian | 33 | 14% |
| Other | 12 | 5.1% |
| Cyclist | 10 | 4.3% |
| Rollover | 9 | 3.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 7 | 3.0% |
| 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 St. Joseph County compare with Indiana
The largest difference from Indiana: from 2015 to 2024, 37% of fatal crashes in St. Joseph County were on rural roads, against 58% across Indiana. Also above the Indiana share: intersections, speeding and hit-and-runs. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Indiana. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 235 crashes.
| St. Joseph | Indiana | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 37% | 58% | below the Indiana share |
| At or near an intersection | 33% | 27% | above the Indiana share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 31% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 20% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Speeding | 32% | 26% | above the Indiana share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.0% | 5.7% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 47% | 46% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Hit-and-run | 9.8% | 5.3% | above the Indiana share |
| A motorcycle involved | 20% | 16% | about the same as the Indiana share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 11% | about the same as the Indiana 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. Joseph County, Indiana
- How many people died in car accidents in St. Joseph County in 2024?
- 23 people died in 23 fatal crashes in St. Joseph County, Indiana, in 2024, 25.8% fewer than in 2023. That is 8.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 12 across Indiana. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in St. Joseph County?
- State Highway 23 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in St. Joseph County from 2015 to 2024: 17, with 17 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in St. Joseph County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 11 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in St. Joseph County involved a drinking driver?
- 45 of 235 fatal crashes in St. Joseph County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 19%, against 20% across Indiana.
Other counties in Indiana with a page
- Marion County
- Lake County
- Allen County
- Elkhart County
- Porter County
- Vanderburgh County
- LaPorte County
- Hamilton County
- Madison County
- Tippecanoe County
- Delaware County
- Bartholomew County
All fatal crashes in Indiana, with every county ranked.
Where the St. Joseph County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in St. Joseph County (county code 141). 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/indiana/st-joseph-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”