I-78 in New Jersey: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 87 fatal crashes on I-78 in New Jersey killed 93 people, the 7th most of any numbered road in New Jersey. In 2024 there were 10 fatal crashes and 13 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 6 counties of New Jersey. All fatal crashes in New Jersey. I-78 in every state.
Deaths on I-78 in New Jersey by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 13 |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 |
| 2022 | 7 | 8 |
| 2021 | 11 | 11 |
| 2020 | 10 | 10 |
| 2019 | 9 | 9 |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 |
| 2016 | 11 | 11 |
| 2015 | 7 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-78 in New Jersey: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Somerset County County had the most fatal crashes on I-78 from 2015 to 2024: 24, with 27 deaths. Somerset, Union and Hunterdon counties together held 70% of fatal crashes in I-78 in New Jersey from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 98%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somerset County | 1 | 24 | 27 |
| 2 | Union County | 2 | 19 | 20 |
| 3 | Hunterdon County | 2 | 18 | 18 |
| 4 | Essex County | 2 | 15 | 15 |
| 5 | Warren County | 3 | 9 | 10 |
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-78 in New Jersey
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 | 4.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 8.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 8.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.0%
- Feb9.2%
- Mar9.2%
- Apr9.2%
- May10.3%
- Jun4.6%
- Jul14.9%
- Aug8.0%
- Sep9.2%
- Oct8.0%
- Nov4.6%
- Dec4.6%
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-78 in New Jersey
12.82 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 68 miles of I-78 in New Jersey, against 15.33 for all interstates in New Jersey. That ranks 3 of 3 interstates in New Jersey and 43 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-78 in New Jersey first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 36%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 32%, a parked vehicle in 12%, a pedestrian in 8.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 31 | 36% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 28 | 32% |
| Parked vehicle | 10 | 12% |
| Pedestrian | 7 | 8.0% |
| Rollover | 7 | 8.0% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 2.3% |
| Other | 2 | 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 on I-78 in New Jersey compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 18% of fatal crashes in I-78 in New Jersey from 2015 to 2024, below the New Jersey share of 22%; speeding in 10%, below the New Jersey share of 23%; a hit-and-run in 2.3%, below the New Jersey share of 8.7%; a driver recorded as distracted in 32%, above the New Jersey share of 26%; 48% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above the New Jersey share of 45%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of New Jersey. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-78 | New Jersey | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 14% | 11% | above the New Jersey share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.0% | 34% | below the New Jersey share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 30% | 18% | above the New Jersey share |
| A drinking driver | 18% | 22% | below the New Jersey share |
| Speeding | 10% | 23% | below the New Jersey share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 32% | 26% | above the New Jersey share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 48% | 45% | above the New Jersey share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.3% | 8.7% | below the New Jersey share |
| A motorcycle involved | 5.7% | 14% | below the New Jersey share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 29% | below the New Jersey 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-78 in New Jersey
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-78 in New Jersey?
- 87 fatal crashes killed 93 people on I-78 in New Jersey from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 10 fatal crashes and 13 deaths.
- Where on I-78 in New Jersey do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Somerset County had the most fatal crashes on I-78 from 2015 to 2024: 24, with 27 deaths. Union County was second with 19.
- How dangerous is I-78 in New Jersey per mile?
- 12.82 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 68 miles of road, against 15.33 for all interstates in New Jersey. That ranks 3 of 3 interstates in New Jersey and 43 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 New Jersey with a page
- I-295
- I-80
- I-95
- State Highway 27
- State Highway 35
- State Highway 47
- State Highway 70
- US 1
- US 130
- US 206
- US 30
- US 322
All fatal crashes in New Jersey, with every road ranked.
Where the I-78 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-78 in New Jersey (filed under 5 spellings, such as "I- 78", "I-78", "I-78 E", "I-78 PHILLIPSBURG-NEWARK EXPY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.