Fatal crashes in Erie County, New York
In 2024, 55 people died in 54 fatal crashes in Erie County, 6.8% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 481 fatal crashes and 503 deaths, the 5th most of any county in New York.
5.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 5.5 across New York in 2024; 5.4 against 5.4 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 950,602, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in New York.
Deaths in Erie County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 54 | 55 |
| 2023 | 55 | 59 |
| 2022 | 52 | 59 |
| 2021 | 60 | 63 |
| 2020 | 43 | 48 |
| 2019 | 38 | 39 |
| 2018 | 43 | 43 |
| 2017 | 42 | 43 |
| 2016 | 50 | 50 |
| 2015 | 44 | 44 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Erie County
State Highway 5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Erie County from 2015 to 2024: 29, with 30 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 41% of all fatal crashes in Erie County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 3 US routes, 10 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 | State Highway 5 | 29 | 30 | 14 | |
| 2 | US 20 | 29 | 30 | 6 | |
| 3 | US 62 | 24 | 25 | 10 | |
| 4 | State Highway 33 | 21 | 22 | 11 | no page |
| 5 | I-90 | 14 | 15 | 4 | |
| 6 | State Highway 354 | 13 | 13 | 4 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 16 | 12 | 13 | 6 | no page |
| 8 | US 219 | 10 | 11 | 2 | no page |
| 9 | I-190 | 9 | 10 | 3 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 78 | 8 | 8 | 5 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 277 | 7 | 7 | 4 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 384 | 7 | 7 | 2 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 240 | 6 | 6 | 2 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 39 | 5 | 5 | 0 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 400 | 5 | 5 | 1 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Buffalo 147, Cheektowaga 44, Amherst 32, Hamburg 28, Lancaster 19, Tonawanda 18, West Seneca 14, Elma 13. 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 Erie County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 23 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 15 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.1 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 17 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.8 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.2%
- Feb6.2%
- Mar4.6%
- Apr4.6%
- May12.3%
- Jun10.2%
- Jul10.0%
- Aug11.9%
- Sep11.0%
- Oct7.7%
- Nov7.5%
- Dec7.9%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Erie County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 42%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 25%, a pedestrian in 20%, a cyclist in 4.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 200 | 42% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 122 | 25% |
| Pedestrian | 98 | 20% |
| Cyclist | 23 | 4.8% |
| Other | 21 | 4.4% |
| Rollover | 10 | 2.1% |
| Parked vehicle | 7 | 1.5% |
| 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 Erie County compare with New York
A drinking driver was recorded in 26% of fatal crashes in Erie County from 2015 to 2024, above the New York share of 20%; speeding in 34%, above the New York share of 31%; a hit-and-run in 8.5%, about the New York share; a driver recorded as distracted in 9.6%, below the New York share of 12%; 38% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, about the New York share. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of New York. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Erie | New York | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 23% | 30% | below the New York share |
| At or near an intersection | 33% | 34% | below the New York share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 13% | 17% | below the New York share |
| A drinking driver | 26% | 20% | above the New York share |
| Speeding | 34% | 31% | above the New York share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.6% | 12% | below the New York share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 38% | 37% | about the same as the New York share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.5% | 8.2% | about the same as the New York share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 18% | below the New York share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 20% | 26% | below the New York 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 Erie County
- How many people died in car accidents in Erie County in 2024?
- 55 people died in 54 fatal crashes in Erie County, New York, in 2024, 6.8% fewer than in 2023. That is 5.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 5.5 across New York.
- What is the deadliest road in Erie County?
- State Highway 5 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Erie County from 2015 to 2024: 29, with 30 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Erie County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 23 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Erie County involved a drinking driver?
- 123 of 481 fatal crashes in Erie County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 26%, against 20% across New York.
Other counties in New York with a page
- Suffolk County
- Nassau County
- Queens County
- Kings County
- Monroe County
- Bronx County
- New York County
- Westchester County
- Orange County
- Onondaga County
- Dutchess County
- Albany County
All fatal crashes in New York, with every county ranked.
Where the Erie County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Erie County (county code 29). 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.