Fatal crashes in Oakland County, Michigan
In 2024, 68 people died in 61 fatal crashes in Oakland County, Michigan, 25.9% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 635 fatal crashes and 667 deaths, the 2nd most of 83 counties in Michigan.
5.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 10.8 across Michigan in 2024; 5.3 against 10.5 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 1,296,888, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Michigan.
Deaths in Oakland County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 61 | 68 |
| 2023 | 53 | 54 |
| 2022 | 76 | 79 |
| 2021 | 64 | 66 |
| 2020 | 55 | 62 |
| 2019 | 63 | 68 |
| 2018 | 53 | 54 |
| 2017 | 68 | 69 |
| 2016 | 78 | 80 |
| 2015 | 64 | 67 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Oakland County
State Highway 59 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Oakland County from 2015 to 2024: 46, with 47 deaths. The 11 roads listed held 36% of all fatal crashes in Oakland County from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 1 US route, 7 state highways. 39% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 61% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 59 | 46 | 47 | 11 | |
| 2 | I-75 | 34 | 40 | 9 | |
| 3 | US 24 | 34 | 36 | 8 | |
| 4 | State Highway 102 | 26 | 27 | 9 | |
| 5 | I-696 | 24 | 27 | 9 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 1 | 16 | 16 | 2 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 10 | 14 | 17 | 2 | |
| 8 | State Highway 24 | 14 | 14 | 8 | |
| 9 | State Highway 5 | 9 | 9 | 4 | no page |
| 10 | I-96 | 8 | 8 | 1 | |
| 11 | State Highway 15 | 5 | 7 | 1 | no page |
Southfield had 11% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 67 of 635.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Southfield 67, Pontiac 58, Farmington Hills 41, Troy 29, Royal Oak 20, Waterford 18, Rochester Hills 18, Aburn Hills 17. 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 Oakland County
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 30 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; 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 | 4.1 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 22 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 30 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.3 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 25 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.5%
- Feb5.7%
- Mar7.4%
- Apr6.5%
- May6.9%
- Jun9.8%
- Jul11.3%
- Aug9.1%
- Sep11.7%
- Oct8.8%
- Nov8.2%
- Dec8.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Oakland County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 46%; a pedestrian in 23%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 21%, a rollover in 3.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 290 | 46% |
| Pedestrian | 145 | 23% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 133 | 21% |
| Other | 26 | 4.1% |
| Rollover | 19 | 3.0% |
| Cyclist | 18 | 2.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 0.6% |
| 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 Oakland County compare with Michigan
The largest difference from Michigan: from 2015 to 2024, 7.6% of fatal crashes in Oakland County were on rural roads, against 41% across Michigan. Also above the Michigan share: pedestrians. Below it: drinking drivers and speeding. 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 635 crashes.
| Oakland | Michigan | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 7.6% | 41% | below the Michigan share |
| At or near an intersection | 30% | 29% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 27% | 26% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| A drinking driver | 24% | 28% | below the Michigan share |
| Speeding | 20% | 25% | below the Michigan share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.3% | 5.9% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 37% | 38% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.6% | 6.5% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 16% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 23% | 15% | above 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 Oakland County, Michigan
- How many people died in car accidents in Oakland County in 2024?
- 68 people died in 61 fatal crashes in Oakland County, Michigan, in 2024, 25.9% more than in 2023. That is 5.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 10.8 across Michigan. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Oakland County?
- State Highway 59 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Oakland County from 2015 to 2024: 46, with 47 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Oakland County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 30 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Oakland County involved a drinking driver?
- 153 of 635 fatal crashes in Oakland County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 24%, against 28% across Michigan.
Other counties in Michigan with a page
- Wayne County
- Kent 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 Oakland County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Oakland County (county code 125). 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/oakland-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”