Fatal crashes in Franklin County, Ohio
In 2024, 89 people died in 83 fatal crashes in Franklin County, 31.0% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 990 fatal crashes and 1,057 deaths, the most of any county in Ohio.
6.6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.7 across Ohio in 2024; 8.1 against 10.1 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 1,356,303, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Ohio.
Deaths in Franklin County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 83 | 89 |
| 2023 | 118 | 129 |
| 2022 | 118 | 125 |
| 2021 | 117 | 125 |
| 2020 | 117 | 123 |
| 2019 | 101 | 109 |
| 2018 | 84 | 90 |
| 2017 | 85 | 88 |
| 2016 | 88 | 94 |
| 2015 | 79 | 85 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Franklin County
I-270 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024: 83, with 93 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 43% of all fatal crashes in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 4 US routes, 7 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-270 | 83 | 93 | 24 | |
| 2 | I-71 | 56 | 66 | 10 | |
| 3 | I-70 | 44 | 46 | 11 | |
| 4 | US 40 | 44 | 45 | 13 | |
| 5 | US 33 | 29 | 31 | 8 | |
| 6 | US 62 | 25 | 27 | 5 | |
| 7 | US 23 | 24 | 26 | 9 | |
| 8 | State Highway 3 | 22 | 24 | 9 | |
| 9 | State Highway 16 | 20 | 22 | 12 | |
| 10 | State Highway 161 | 20 | 20 | 8 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 104 | 16 | 17 | 6 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 317 | 15 | 15 | 7 | no page |
| 13 | I-670 | 12 | 13 | 3 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 315 | 9 | 9 | 1 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 665 | 6 | 6 | 1 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Columbus 640, Grove City 22, Dublin 18, Gahanna 10, Hilliard 8, Whitehall 7, Groveport 7, Westerville 6. 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 Franklin County
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 59 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 10 pm to 11 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.6 percent, 46 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 31 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 28 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 36 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 30 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.2 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 39 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.4 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 37 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 30 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.6 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 28 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 59 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 6.0 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 41 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.9%
- Feb5.8%
- Mar7.9%
- Apr6.7%
- May9.1%
- Jun8.0%
- Jul9.8%
- Aug9.4%
- Sep11.9%
- Oct8.4%
- Nov7.0%
- Dec8.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Franklin County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 39%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a pedestrian in 23%, a cyclist in 2.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 390 | 39% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 270 | 27% |
| Pedestrian | 226 | 23% |
| Other | 43 | 4.3% |
| Cyclist | 25 | 2.5% |
| Rollover | 20 | 2.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 16 | 1.6% |
| 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 Franklin County compare with Ohio
A drinking driver was recorded in 30% of fatal crashes in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024, below the Ohio share of 32%; speeding in 18%, below the Ohio share of 23%; a hit-and-run in 15%, above the Ohio share of 5.9%; a driver recorded as distracted in 3.8%, below the Ohio share of 5.0%; 53% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below 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.
| Franklin | Ohio | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 2.4% | 42% | below the Ohio share |
| At or near an intersection | 34% | 27% | above the Ohio share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 20% | 25% | below the Ohio share |
| A drinking driver | 30% | 32% | below the Ohio share |
| Speeding | 18% | 23% | below the Ohio share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.8% | 5.0% | below the Ohio share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 53% | 55% | below the Ohio share |
| Hit-and-run | 15% | 5.9% | above the Ohio share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 17% | about the same as the Ohio share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 23% | 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 Franklin County
- How many people died in car accidents in Franklin County in 2024?
- 89 people died in 83 fatal crashes in Franklin County, Ohio, in 2024, 31.0% fewer than in 2023. That is 6.6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 9.7 across Ohio.
- What is the deadliest road in Franklin County?
- I-270 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024: 83, with 93 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Franklin County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 59 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Franklin County involved a drinking driver?
- 297 of 990 fatal crashes in Franklin County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 30%, against 32% across Ohio.
Other counties in Ohio with a page
- Cuyahoga 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 Franklin County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Franklin County (county code 49). 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.