Fatal crashes in Wayne County, Michigan
In 2024, 177 people died in 166 fatal crashes in Wayne County, 11.9% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 1,802 fatal crashes and 1,948 deaths, the most of any county in Michigan.
10 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 10.8 across Michigan in 2024; 11 against 10.5 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 1,771,063, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Michigan.
Deaths in Wayne County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 166 | 177 |
| 2023 | 190 | 201 |
| 2022 | 201 | 216 |
| 2021 | 202 | 219 |
| 2020 | 235 | 253 |
| 2019 | 151 | 166 |
| 2018 | 153 | 164 |
| 2017 | 147 | 161 |
| 2016 | 184 | 201 |
| 2015 | 173 | 190 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Wayne County
I-94 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Wayne County from 2015 to 2024: 85, with 98 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 32% of all fatal crashes in Wayne County from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 2 US routes, 9 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes with 5 or more fatal crashes in the county; county roads and city streets are in the county's total but not listed.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-94 | 85 | 98 | 25 | |
| 2 | State Highway 3 | 65 | 69 | 17 | |
| 3 | I-96 | 59 | 67 | 21 | |
| 4 | I-75 | 51 | 62 | 17 | |
| 5 | US 12 | 45 | 48 | 16 | |
| 6 | US 24 | 44 | 48 | 16 | |
| 7 | State Highway 102 | 35 | 36 | 13 | |
| 8 | State Highway 10 | 30 | 32 | 15 | |
| 9 | State Highway 39 | 27 | 27 | 9 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 153 | 26 | 27 | 7 | no page |
| 11 | I-275 | 25 | 28 | 7 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 85 | 22 | 23 | 4 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 1 | 21 | 22 | 7 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 5 | 18 | 22 | 6 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 96 | 18 | 18 | 8 |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Detroit 1,061, Taylor 58, Dearborn 51, Romulus 46, Livonia 42, Westland 33, Redford Township 33, Canton Township 28. 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 Wayne County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 128 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 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 | 7.1 percent, 128 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 49 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 66 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 3.3 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 60 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.8 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 49 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 58 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.9 percent, 35 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 38 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 66 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.6 percent, 47 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 56 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.4 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 42 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 92 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.7 percent, 103 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 37 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 51 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 102 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.1%
- Feb5.7%
- Mar6.9%
- Apr8.2%
- May9.5%
- Jun10.8%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug11.6%
- Sep9.0%
- Oct8.0%
- Nov8.0%
- Dec7.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Wayne County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 41%; a pedestrian in 25%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 23%, a cyclist in 2.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 743 | 41% |
| Pedestrian | 449 | 25% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 406 | 23% |
| Other | 68 | 3.8% |
| Cyclist | 50 | 2.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 45 | 2.5% |
| Rollover | 41 | 2.3% |
| 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 Wayne County compare with Michigan
A drinking driver was recorded in 24% of fatal crashes in Wayne County from 2015 to 2024, below the Michigan share of 28%; speeding in 31%, above the Michigan share of 25%; a hit-and-run in 17%, above the Michigan share of 6.5%; a driver recorded as distracted in 4.1%, below the Michigan share of 5.9%; 48% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above 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.
| Wayne | Michigan | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 1.7% | 41% | below the Michigan share |
| At or near an intersection | 37% | 29% | above the Michigan share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 14% | 26% | below the Michigan share |
| A drinking driver | 24% | 28% | below the Michigan share |
| Speeding | 31% | 25% | above the Michigan share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.1% | 5.9% | below the Michigan share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 48% | 38% | above the Michigan share |
| Hit-and-run | 17% | 6.5% | above the Michigan share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 16% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 26% | 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 Wayne County
- How many people died in car accidents in Wayne County in 2024?
- 177 people died in 166 fatal crashes in Wayne County, Michigan, in 2024, 11.9% fewer than in 2023. That is 10 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 10.8 across Michigan.
- What is the deadliest road in Wayne County?
- I-94 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Wayne County from 2015 to 2024: 85, with 98 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Wayne County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 128 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Wayne County involved a drinking driver?
- 432 of 1,802 fatal crashes in Wayne County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 24%, against 28% across Michigan.
Other counties in Michigan with a page
- Oakland 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 Wayne County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Wayne County (county code 163). 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. The full method.