Fatal crashes in Kent County, Michigan
In 2024, 63 people died in 61 fatal crashes in Kent County, Michigan, 1.6% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 576 fatal crashes and 607 deaths, the 3rd most of 83 counties in Michigan.
9.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 10.8 across Michigan in 2024; 9.3 against 10.5 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 673,002, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Michigan.
Deaths in Kent County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 61 | 63 |
| 2023 | 60 | 64 |
| 2022 | 50 | 55 |
| 2021 | 61 | 66 |
| 2020 | 55 | 55 |
| 2019 | 47 | 49 |
| 2018 | 61 | 65 |
| 2017 | 65 | 69 |
| 2016 | 55 | 57 |
| 2015 | 61 | 64 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Kent County
State Highway 11 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Kent County from 2015 to 2024: 50, with 52 deaths. The 9 roads listed held 32% of all fatal crashes in Kent County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 US route, 7 state highways. 35% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 65% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 11 | 50 | 52 | 13 | no page |
| 2 | US 131 | 42 | 46 | 15 | |
| 3 | State Highway 37 | 27 | 29 | 5 | |
| 4 | State Highway 57 | 23 | 28 | 6 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 44 | 18 | 18 | 8 | no page |
| 6 | I-96 | 10 | 10 | 4 | |
| 7 | State Highway 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 21 | 6 | 6 | 3 | |
| 9 | State Highway 45 | 5 | 5 | 1 | no page |
Grand Rapids had 22% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 124 of 576.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Grand Rapids 124, Wyoming 67, Walker 29, Kentwood 25, Cascade 17, Alpine 10, Grandville 10. 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 Kent County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 30 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 3 pm to 4 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 | 5.2 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 17 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.4 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 26 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.1%
- Feb7.6%
- Mar5.7%
- Apr6.9%
- May8.9%
- Jun8.2%
- Jul7.5%
- Aug12.8%
- Sep11.3%
- Oct8.9%
- Nov8.7%
- Dec6.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Kent 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 21%, a pedestrian in 17%, a rollover in 4.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 288 | 50% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 122 | 21% |
| Pedestrian | 99 | 17% |
| Rollover | 26 | 4.5% |
| Cyclist | 21 | 3.6% |
| Other | 17 | 3.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 3 | 0.5% |
| 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 Kent County compare with Michigan
The largest difference from Michigan: from 2015 to 2024, 21% of fatal crashes in Kent County were on rural roads, against 41% across Michigan. Also above the Michigan share: intersections. Below it: unlit roads at night, speeding and unbelted occupants. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Michigan. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 576 crashes.
| Kent | Michigan | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 21% | 41% | below the Michigan share |
| At or near an intersection | 35% | 29% | above the Michigan share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 21% | 26% | below the Michigan share |
| A drinking driver | 29% | 28% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Speeding | 21% | 25% | below the Michigan share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.1% | 5.9% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 32% | 38% | below the Michigan share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.9% | 6.5% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 16% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 18% | 15% | about the same as 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 Kent County, Michigan
- How many people died in car accidents in Kent County in 2024?
- 63 people died in 61 fatal crashes in Kent County, Michigan, in 2024, 1.6% fewer than in 2023. That is 9.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 10.8 across Michigan. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Kent County?
- State Highway 11 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Kent County from 2015 to 2024: 50, with 52 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Kent County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 30 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Kent County involved a drinking driver?
- 166 of 576 fatal crashes in Kent County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 29%, against 28% across Michigan.
Other counties in Michigan with a page
- Wayne County
- Oakland County
- Macomb County
- Genesee County
- Kalamazoo County
- Washtenaw County
- Ingham County
- Calhoun County
- Ottawa County
- Saginaw County
- St. Clair County
- Jackson County
All fatal crashes in Michigan, with every county ranked.
Where the Kent County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Kent County (county code 81). 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/michigan/kent-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”