Fatal crashes in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
In 2024, 20 people died in 16 fatal crashes in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, up from 18 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 185 fatal crashes and 200 deaths, the 20th most of 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
9.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 8.6 across Pennsylvania in 2024; 9.4 against 9 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 216,859, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Pennsylvania.
Deaths in Lackawanna County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 | 20 |
| 2023 | 18 | 18 |
| 2022 | 21 | 22 |
| 2021 | 18 | 19 |
| 2020 | 20 | 22 |
| 2019 | 10 | 10 |
| 2018 | 28 | 30 |
| 2017 | 20 | 20 |
| 2016 | 15 | 20 |
| 2015 | 19 | 19 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Lackawanna County
I-81 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Lackawanna County from 2015 to 2024: 20, with 26 deaths. The 9 roads listed held 48% of all fatal crashes in Lackawanna County from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 3 US routes, 3 state highways. 79% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 21% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-81 | 20 | 26 | 3 | |
| 2 | State Highway 307 | 15 | 16 | 7 | no page |
| 3 | US 11 | 15 | 15 | 4 | |
| 4 | US 6 | 11 | 12 | 2 | |
| 5 | I-84 | 6 | 6 | 1 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 3013 | 6 | 6 | 1 | no page |
| 7 | US 6B | 6 | 6 | 0 | no page |
| 8 | I-380 | 5 | 5 | 1 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 6006 | 5 | 5 | 2 | no page |
Scranton had 21% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 39 of 185.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Scranton 39, Moosic 13, Archbald 8, Carbondale 6, Dunmore 6, Blakely 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 Lackawanna County
The heaviest slot is Wednesday, 4 to 8 pm, with 10 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 4.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.2 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan11.4%
- Feb7.0%
- Mar5.4%
- Apr7.0%
- May5.4%
- Jun9.2%
- Jul8.1%
- Aug7.0%
- Sep9.2%
- Oct14.6%
- Nov4.3%
- Dec11.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Lackawanna County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 38%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a pedestrian in 22%, a rollover in 4.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 70 | 38% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 49 | 27% |
| Pedestrian | 40 | 22% |
| Other | 12 | 6.5% |
| Rollover | 9 | 4.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 2.2% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.5% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Lackawanna County compare with Pennsylvania
The largest difference from Pennsylvania: from 2015 to 2024, 31% of fatal crashes in Lackawanna County were on rural roads, against 45% across Pennsylvania. Also above the Pennsylvania share: pedestrians. Below it: drinking drivers and 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 185 crashes.
| Lackawanna | Pennsylvania | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 31% | 45% | below the Pennsylvania share |
| At or near an intersection | 22% | 24% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 23% | 25% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 25% | below the Pennsylvania share |
| Speeding | 35% | 40% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 5.9% | 5.3% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 64% | 58% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.9% | 5.1% | about the same as the Pennsylvania share |
| A motorcycle involved | 11% | 18% | below the Pennsylvania share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 22% | 14% | above 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 Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
- How many people died in car accidents in Lackawanna County in 2024?
- 20 people died in 16 fatal crashes in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, in 2024, up from 18 in 2023. That is 9.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 8.6 across Pennsylvania. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Lackawanna County?
- I-81 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Lackawanna County from 2015 to 2024: 20, with 26 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Lackawanna County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Wednesday, 4 to 8 pm, with 10 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Lackawanna County involved a drinking driver?
- 35 of 185 fatal crashes in Lackawanna County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 19%, against 25% across Pennsylvania.
Other counties in Pennsylvania with a page
- Philadelphia County
- Allegheny County
- Bucks County
- Lancaster County
- Berks County
- Montgomery County
- York County
- Westmoreland County
- Chester County
- Luzerne County
- Dauphin County
- Lehigh County
All fatal crashes in Pennsylvania, with every county ranked.
Where the Lackawanna County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Lackawanna County (county code 69). 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/lackawanna-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”