Fatal crashes in Rensselaer County, New York
In 2024, 13 people died in 12 fatal crashes in Rensselaer County, New York, up from 12 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 90 fatal crashes and 95 deaths, the 28th most of 62 counties in New York.
8.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 5.5 across New York in 2024; 5.9 against 5.4 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 160,749, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in New York.
Deaths in Rensselaer County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | 13 |
| 2023 | 11 | 12 |
| 2022 | 11 | 12 |
| 2021 | 9 | 9 |
| 2020 | 11 | 13 |
| 2019 | 4 | 4 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 |
| 2017 | 9 | 9 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 |
| 2015 | 9 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Rensselaer County
State Highway 7 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Rensselaer County from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 15 deaths. The 7 roads listed held 56% of all fatal crashes in Rensselaer County from 2015 to 2024; 3 US routes, 4 state highways. 77% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 23% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 7 | 13 | 15 | 5 | |
| 2 | State Highway 67 | 7 | 8 | 3 | no page |
| 3 | US 9 | 7 | 8 | 5 | |
| 4 | US 4 | 7 | 7 | 1 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 22 | 6 | 6 | 4 | |
| 6 | State Highway 40 | 5 | 5 | 3 | no page |
| 7 | US 20 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
Troy had 20% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 18 of 90.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Troy 18, Johnsonville 10, Schaghticoke 9, East Greenbush 6, Nassau 5, Petersburg 5, Brunswick 5. 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 Rensselaer County
90 fatal crashes in Rensselaer County, New York from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is midnight to 1 am; 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 | 3.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 6.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.4%
- Feb7.8%
- Mar3.3%
- Apr10.0%
- May7.8%
- Jun5.6%
- Jul11.1%
- Aug15.6%
- Sep8.9%
- Oct10.0%
- Nov7.8%
- Dec7.8%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Rensselaer County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 46%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 30%, a pedestrian in 17%, a cyclist in 2.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 41 | 46% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 27 | 30% |
| Pedestrian | 15 | 17% |
| Other | 4 | 4.4% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 2.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.1% |
| Rollover | 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 in Rensselaer County compare with New York
The largest difference from New York: from 2015 to 2024, 53% of fatal crashes in Rensselaer County were on rural roads, against 30% across New York. Also above the New York share: motorcycles. Below it: hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of New York. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 90 crashes.
| Rensselaer | New York | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 53% | 30% | above the New York share |
| At or near an intersection | 29% | 34% | about the same as the New York share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 19% | 17% | about the same as the New York share |
| A drinking driver | 24% | 20% | about the same as the New York share |
| Speeding | 31% | 31% | about the same as the New York share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 11% | 12% | about the same as the New York share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 32% | 37% | about the same as the New York share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.2% | 8.2% | below the New York share |
| A motorcycle involved | 27% | 18% | above the New York share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 17% | 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 Rensselaer County, New York
- How many people died in car accidents in Rensselaer County in 2024?
- 13 people died in 12 fatal crashes in Rensselaer County, New York, in 2024, up from 12 in 2023. That is 8.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 5.5 across New York. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Rensselaer County?
- State Highway 7 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Rensselaer County from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 15 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Rensselaer County involved a drinking driver?
- 22 of 90 fatal crashes in Rensselaer County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 24%, against 20% across New York.
Other counties in New York with a page
- Suffolk County
- Nassau County
- Queens County
- Kings County
- Erie County
- Monroe County
- Bronx County
- New York County
- Westchester County
- Orange County
- Onondaga County
- Dutchess County
All fatal crashes in New York, with every county ranked.
Where the Rensselaer County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Rensselaer County (county code 83). 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/new-york/rensselaer-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”