Fatal crashes in Athens County, Ohio
In 2024, 5 people died in 3 fatal crashes in Athens County, Ohio, down from 10 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 67 fatal crashes and 78 deaths, the 48th most of 88 counties in Ohio.
Deaths in Athens County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 5 |
| 2023 | 9 | 10 |
| 2022 | 7 | 7 |
| 2021 | 12 | 12 |
| 2020 | 9 | 12 |
| 2019 | 6 | 8 |
| 2018 | 11 | 12 |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 | 6 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Athens County
US 50 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Athens County from 2015 to 2024: 12, with 16 deaths. The 2 roads listed held 34% of all fatal crashes in Athens County from 2015 to 2024; 2 US routes. 57% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 43% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
Athens had 15% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 10 of 67.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Athens 10. 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 Athens County
67 fatal crashes in Athens County, Ohio 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 7 pm to 8 pm; the worst month is June.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.5 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 3.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 9.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.0%
- Feb6.0%
- Mar3.0%
- Apr10.4%
- May6.0%
- Jun17.9%
- Jul10.4%
- Aug17.9%
- Sep10.4%
- Oct3.0%
- Nov4.5%
- Dec4.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Athens County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 34%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 34%, a rollover in 10%, a pedestrian in 9.0%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 23 | 34% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 23 | 34% |
| Rollover | 7 | 10% |
| Pedestrian | 6 | 9.0% |
| Other | 5 | 7.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 3.0% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 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 Athens County compare with Ohio
The largest difference from Ohio: from 2015 to 2024, 67% of fatal crashes in Athens County were on rural roads, against 42% across Ohio. Also above the Ohio share: speeding. Below it: intersections. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Ohio. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 67 crashes.
| Athens | Ohio | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 67% | 42% | above the Ohio share |
| At or near an intersection | 15% | 27% | below the Ohio share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 34% | 25% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| A drinking driver | 30% | 32% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Speeding | 33% | 23% | above the Ohio share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.0% | 5.0% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 52% | 55% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.5% | 5.9% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| A motorcycle involved | 19% | 17% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.0% | 12% | about the same as the Ohio 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 Athens County, Ohio
- How many people died in car accidents in Athens County in 2024?
- 5 people died in 3 fatal crashes in Athens County, Ohio, in 2024, down from 10 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Athens County?
- US 50 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Athens County from 2015 to 2024: 12, with 16 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Athens County involved a drinking driver?
- 20 of 67 fatal crashes in Athens County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 30%, against 32% across Ohio.
Other counties in Ohio with a page
- Franklin County
- Cuyahoga County
- Hamilton County
- Montgomery County
- Lucas County
- Summit County
- Stark County
- Butler County
- Lorain County
- Licking County
- Mahoning County
- Clark County
All fatal crashes in Ohio, with every county ranked.
Where the Athens County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Athens County (county code 9). 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/ohio/athens-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”