State Highway 53 in Michigan: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 75 fatal crashes on State Highway 53 in Michigan killed 81 people, the 11th most of any numbered road in Michigan. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 11 deaths on the road.
An state highway running through 5 counties of Michigan. All fatal crashes in Michigan.
Deaths on State Highway 53 in Michigan by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 11 |
| 2023 | 13 | 14 |
| 2022 | 9 | 9 |
| 2021 | 12 | 12 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 |
| 2019 | 9 | 10 |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 |
| 2016 | 6 | 7 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on State Highway 53 in Michigan: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Macomb County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 53 from 2015 to 2024: 32, with 34 deaths. Macomb, Lapeer and Wayne counties together held 85% of fatal crashes in State Highway 53 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 100%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macomb County | 4 | 32 | 34 |
| 2 | Lapeer County | 3 | 21 | 23 |
| 3 | Wayne County | 1 | 11 | 12 |
| 4 | Huron County | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | Sanilac County | 0 | 5 | 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 State Highway 53 in Michigan
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 4.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.3%
- Feb10.7%
- Mar9.3%
- Apr6.7%
- May12.0%
- Jun17.3%
- Jul4.0%
- Aug9.3%
- Sep9.3%
- Oct4.0%
- Nov8.0%
- Dec0.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on State Highway 53 in Michigan first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 56%; a pedestrian in 24%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 15%, a cyclist in 4.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 42 | 56% |
| Pedestrian | 18 | 24% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 11 | 15% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 4.0% |
| Other | 1 | 1.3% |
| Rollover | 0 | 0.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 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 State Highway 53 in Michigan compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 20% of fatal crashes in State Highway 53 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024, below the Michigan share of 28%; speeding in 20%, below the Michigan share of 25%; a hit-and-run in 13%, above the Michigan share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 8.0%, above the Michigan share of 5.9%; 22% 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.
| State Highway 53 | Michigan | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 43% | 41% | above the Michigan share |
| At or near an intersection | 35% | 29% | above the Michigan share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 25% | 26% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| A drinking driver | 20% | 28% | below the Michigan share |
| Speeding | 20% | 25% | below the Michigan share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.0% | 5.9% | above the Michigan share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 22% | 38% | below the Michigan share |
| Hit-and-run | 13% | 6.5% | above the Michigan share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.7% | 16% | below the Michigan share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 24% | 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 State Highway 53 in Michigan
- How many fatal crashes have there been on State Highway 53 in Michigan?
- 75 fatal crashes killed 81 people on State Highway 53 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 11 deaths.
- Where on State Highway 53 in Michigan do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Macomb County had the most fatal crashes on State Highway 53 from 2015 to 2024: 32, with 34 deaths. Lapeer County was second with 21.
Other roads in Michigan with a page
- I-69
- I-75
- I-94
- I-96
- State Highway 10
- State Highway 102
- State Highway 21
- State Highway 24
- State Highway 25
- State Highway 3
- State Highway 37
- State Highway 43
All fatal crashes in Michigan, with every road ranked.
Where the State Highway 53 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as State Highway 53 in Michigan (filed under 15 spellings, such as "SR-53", "SR-53 CEDAR", "SR-53 CEDAR ST", "SR-53 E VAN DYKE RD"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.