I-96 in Michigan: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 156 fatal crashes on I-96 in Michigan killed 179 people, the 3rd most of any numbered road in Michigan. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 16 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 10 counties of Michigan. All fatal crashes in Michigan. I-96 in every state.
Deaths on I-96 in Michigan by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | 16 |
| 2023 | 19 | 22 |
| 2022 | 18 | 21 |
| 2021 | 18 | 19 |
| 2020 | 17 | 20 |
| 2019 | 17 | 21 |
| 2018 | 13 | 14 |
| 2017 | 12 | 13 |
| 2016 | 17 | 19 |
| 2015 | 12 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-96 in Michigan: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Wayne County County had the most fatal crashes on I-96 from 2015 to 2024: 59, with 67 deaths. Wayne, Livingston and Ingham counties together held 62% of fatal crashes in I-96 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024; the 9 listed held 99%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne County | 4 | 59 | 67 |
| 2 | Livingston County | 2 | 23 | 29 |
| 3 | Ingham County | 1 | 15 | 21 |
| 4 | Ionia County | 0 | 12 | 14 |
| 5 | Ottawa County | 1 | 12 | 12 |
| 6 | Clinton County | 2 | 10 | 11 |
| 7 | Kent County | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| 8 | Oakland County | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| 9 | Eaton County | 2 | 6 | 6 |
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 I-96 in Michigan
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 10 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 am to 3 am; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 6.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.1%
- Feb6.4%
- Mar6.4%
- Apr5.1%
- May12.8%
- Jun9.6%
- Jul10.3%
- Aug11.5%
- Sep13.5%
- Oct7.7%
- Nov6.4%
- Dec5.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Fatal crashes per mile on I-96 in Michigan
8.34 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 187 miles of I-96 in Michigan, against 6.33 for all interstates in Michigan. That ranks 2 of 4 interstates in Michigan and 83 of 171 interstate pages on this site.
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS. Crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic.
What fatal crashes on I-96 in Michigan first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 41%; a collision with another vehicle in 32%, a rollover in 14%, a pedestrian in 9.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 64 | 41% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 50 | 32% |
| Rollover | 21 | 14% |
| Pedestrian | 14 | 9.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 5 | 3.2% |
| Other | 2 | 1.3% |
| Cyclist | 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 I-96 in Michigan compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 26% of fatal crashes in I-96 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024, below the Michigan share of 28%; speeding in 39%, above the Michigan share of 25%; a hit-and-run in 3.8%, below the Michigan share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 8.3%, above the Michigan share of 5.9%; 30% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Michigan share of 38%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Michigan. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-96 | Michigan | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 27% | 41% | below the Michigan share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.6% | 29% | below the Michigan share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 23% | 26% | below the Michigan share |
| A drinking driver | 26% | 28% | below the Michigan share |
| Speeding | 39% | 25% | above the Michigan share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.3% | 5.9% | above the Michigan share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 30% | 38% | below the Michigan share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.8% | 6.5% | below the Michigan share |
| A motorcycle involved | 10% | 16% | below the Michigan share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.5% | 15% | below the Michigan 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 I-96 in Michigan
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-96 in Michigan?
- 156 fatal crashes killed 179 people on I-96 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 16 deaths.
- Where on I-96 in Michigan do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Wayne County had the most fatal crashes on I-96 from 2015 to 2024: 59, with 67 deaths. Livingston County was second with 23.
- When do fatal crashes on I-96 in Michigan happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 10 fatal crashes.
- How dangerous is I-96 in Michigan per mile?
- 8.34 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 187 miles of road, against 6.33 for all interstates in Michigan. That ranks 2 of 4 interstates in Michigan and 83 of 171 interstate pages on this site. FARS records crashes, not traffic, so this is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle.
Other roads in Michigan with a page
- I-69
- I-75
- I-94
- State Highway 10
- State Highway 102
- State Highway 21
- State Highway 24
- State Highway 25
- State Highway 3
- State Highway 37
- State Highway 43
- State Highway 46
All fatal crashes in Michigan, with every road ranked.
Where the I-96 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-96 in Michigan (filed under 10 spellings, such as "I-96", "I-96 CD", "I-96 EXPRESS FWY", "I-96 LOCAL"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.