Fatal crashes in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
In 2024, 118 people died in 111 fatal crashes in Cuyahoga County, 13.5% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 893 fatal crashes and 949 deaths, the 2nd most of any county in Ohio.
9.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.7 across Ohio in 2024; 7.6 against 10.1 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 1,240,594, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Ohio.
Deaths in Cuyahoga County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 111 | 118 |
| 2023 | 100 | 104 |
| 2022 | 82 | 86 |
| 2021 | 121 | 129 |
| 2020 | 105 | 111 |
| 2019 | 79 | 86 |
| 2018 | 59 | 63 |
| 2017 | 91 | 95 |
| 2016 | 75 | 82 |
| 2015 | 70 | 75 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Cuyahoga County
I-90 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Cuyahoga County from 2015 to 2024: 71, with 76 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 41% of all fatal crashes in Cuyahoga County from 2015 to 2024; 6 are interstates, 4 US routes, 5 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-90 | 71 | 76 | 25 | |
| 2 | I-480 | 49 | 51 | 14 | |
| 3 | US 422 | 38 | 42 | 11 | no page |
| 4 | US 6 | 36 | 39 | 10 | |
| 5 | I-71 | 28 | 29 | 9 | |
| 6 | I-271 | 21 | 22 | 12 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 10 | 18 | 20 | 8 | no page |
| 8 | I-77 | 16 | 18 | 6 | |
| 9 | State Highway 17 | 16 | 16 | 5 | no page |
| 10 | US 20 | 15 | 15 | 5 | |
| 11 | I-80 | 13 | 15 | 6 | |
| 12 | State Highway 176 | 11 | 14 | 3 | no page |
| 13 | US 42 | 11 | 12 | 4 | |
| 14 | State Highway 43 | 11 | 11 | 5 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 14 | 10 | 12 | 1 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Cleveland 490, Euclid 45, East Cleveland 21, Strongsville 16, Garfield Hts 16, Independence 16, Maple Heights 11, Parma Heights 11. 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 Cuyahoga County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 57 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 am to 3 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 | 4.8 percent, 43 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 29 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.5 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 24 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.1 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 38 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.5 percent, 31 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 38 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 6.4 percent, 57 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 50 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.3%
- Feb6.2%
- Mar7.3%
- Apr8.2%
- May9.2%
- Jun6.8%
- Jul9.2%
- Aug11.0%
- Sep10.1%
- Oct10.1%
- Nov7.4%
- Dec8.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Cuyahoga County first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 37%; a collision with another vehicle in 36%, a pedestrian in 16%, a rollover in 2.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 328 | 37% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 321 | 36% |
| Pedestrian | 144 | 16% |
| Other | 40 | 4.5% |
| Rollover | 25 | 2.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 21 | 2.4% |
| Cyclist | 13 | 1.5% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.1% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Cuyahoga County compare with Ohio
A drinking driver was recorded in 38% of fatal crashes in Cuyahoga County from 2015 to 2024, above the Ohio share of 32%; speeding in 36%, above the Ohio share of 23%; a hit-and-run in 13%, above the Ohio share of 5.9%; a driver recorded as distracted in 3.8%, below the Ohio share of 5.0%; 66% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, above the Ohio share of 55%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Ohio. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Cuyahoga | Ohio | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 1.0% | 42% | below the Ohio share |
| At or near an intersection | 35% | 27% | above the Ohio share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 3.4% | 25% | below the Ohio share |
| A drinking driver | 38% | 32% | above the Ohio share |
| Speeding | 36% | 23% | above the Ohio share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.8% | 5.0% | below the Ohio share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 66% | 55% | above the Ohio share |
| Hit-and-run | 13% | 5.9% | above the Ohio share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 17% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 18% | 12% | above 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 Cuyahoga County
- How many people died in car accidents in Cuyahoga County in 2024?
- 118 people died in 111 fatal crashes in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 2024, 13.5% more than in 2023. That is 9.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.7 across Ohio.
- What is the deadliest road in Cuyahoga County?
- I-90 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Cuyahoga County from 2015 to 2024: 71, with 76 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Cuyahoga County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 57 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Cuyahoga County involved a drinking driver?
- 339 of 893 fatal crashes in Cuyahoga County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 38%, against 32% across Ohio.
Other counties in Ohio with a page
- Franklin County
- Hamilton County
- Montgomery County
- Lucas County
- Summit County
- Stark County
- Butler County
- Lorain County
- Licking County
- Mahoning County
- Clark County
- Trumbull County
All fatal crashes in Ohio, with every county ranked.
Where the Cuyahoga County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Cuyahoga County (county code 35). 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.