Fatal crashes in Berks County, Pennsylvania
In 2024, 47 people died in 47 fatal crashes in Berks County, Pennsylvania, 7.8% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 416 fatal crashes and 440 deaths, the 5th most of 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
10.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 8.6 across Pennsylvania in 2024; 10.3 against 9 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 439,117, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Pennsylvania.
Deaths in Berks County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 47 | 47 |
| 2023 | 47 | 51 |
| 2022 | 46 | 47 |
| 2021 | 40 | 46 |
| 2020 | 36 | 37 |
| 2019 | 42 | 49 |
| 2018 | 38 | 41 |
| 2017 | 47 | 48 |
| 2016 | 35 | 35 |
| 2015 | 38 | 39 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Berks County
US 422 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Berks County from 2015 to 2024: 30, with 33 deaths. The 13 roads listed held 46% of all fatal crashes in Berks County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 3 US routes, 8 state highways. 70% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 30% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 422 | 30 | 33 | 10 | |
| 2 | State Highway 61 | 27 | 29 | 12 | |
| 3 | US 222 | 23 | 24 | 9 | |
| 4 | State Highway 183 | 21 | 24 | 7 | no page |
| 5 | I-78 | 20 | 25 | 5 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 724 | 12 | 13 | 6 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 73 | 11 | 11 | 5 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 1010 | 10 | 12 | 3 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 662 | 9 | 10 | 5 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 501 | 8 | 8 | 0 | no page |
| 11 | I-176 | 7 | 8 | 1 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 10 | 7 | 7 | 3 | no page |
| 13 | US 222B | 7 | 7 | 2 | no page |
Reading had 9.6% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 40 of 416.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Reading 40, Wyomissing 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 Berks County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, noon to 4 pm, with 22 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 6 pm to 7 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 | 2.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.1 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.5%
- Feb6.0%
- Mar7.5%
- Apr7.9%
- May9.1%
- Jun9.6%
- Jul9.4%
- Aug8.9%
- Sep9.9%
- Oct8.7%
- Nov8.7%
- 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 Berks County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 45%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 30%, a pedestrian in 11%, a parked vehicle in 3.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 188 | 45% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 126 | 30% |
| Pedestrian | 46 | 11% |
| Other | 24 | 5.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 13 | 3.1% |
| Rollover | 12 | 2.9% |
| Cyclist | 7 | 1.7% |
| 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 Berks County compare with Pennsylvania
The largest difference from Pennsylvania: from 2015 to 2024, 29% of fatal crashes in Berks County were in the dark on unlit roads, against 25% across Pennsylvania. Also above the Pennsylvania share: motorcycles. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Pennsylvania. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 416 crashes.
| Berks | Pennsylvania | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 46% | 45% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 24% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 29% | 25% | above the Pennsylvania share |
| A drinking driver | 27% | 25% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| Speeding | 43% | 40% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.0% | 5.3% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 55% | 58% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.1% | 5.1% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| A motorcycle involved | 22% | 18% | above the Pennsylvania share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 14% | about the same as the Pennsylvania 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 Berks County, Pennsylvania
- How many people died in car accidents in Berks County in 2024?
- 47 people died in 47 fatal crashes in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2024, 7.8% fewer than in 2023. That is 10.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 8.6 across Pennsylvania. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Berks County?
- US 422 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Berks County from 2015 to 2024: 30, with 33 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Berks County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, noon to 4 pm, with 22 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Berks County involved a drinking driver?
- 114 of 416 fatal crashes in Berks County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 27%, against 25% across Pennsylvania.
Other counties in Pennsylvania with a page
- Philadelphia County
- Allegheny County
- Bucks County
- Lancaster County
- Montgomery County
- York County
- Westmoreland County
- Chester County
- Luzerne County
- Dauphin County
- Lehigh County
- Erie County
All fatal crashes in Pennsylvania, with every county ranked.
Where the Berks County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Berks County (county code 11). 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/pennsylvania/berks-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”