Fatal crashes in South Carolina
In 2024, 1,038 people died in 948 fatal crashes on South Carolina roads, 0.9% fewer than in 2023. That is about 3 deaths a day, and 2.6% of all road deaths in the United States.
South Carolina ranks 13th of 51 by road deaths in 2024.
Road deaths in South Carolina since 1975
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads in South Carolina
US 17 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in South Carolina from 2015 to 2024: 418, with 452 deaths. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (36 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 17 | 418 | 452 | 112 | Horry, Charleston, Berkeley |
| 2 | I-26 | 288 | 332 | 70 | Spartanburg, Lexington, Orangeburg |
| 3 | I-95 | 225 | 266 | 53 | Colleton, Clarendon, Jasper |
| 4 | US 76 | 206 | 213 | 63 | Richland, Anderson, Sumter |
| 5 | US 52 | 179 | 191 | 67 | Charleston, Berkeley, Florence |
| 6 | US 25 | 167 | 178 | 44 | Greenville, Greenwood, Aiken |
| 7 | I-20 | 159 | 173 | 41 | Richland, Lexington, Aiken |
| 8 | US 21 | 156 | 176 | 48 | Beaufort, York, Orangeburg |
| 9 | State Highway 9 | 149 | 162 | 50 | Horry, Spartanburg, Lancaster |
| 10 | I-85 | 140 | 160 | 39 | Spartanburg, Anderson, Greenville |
| 11 | US 1 | 135 | 147 | 36 | Richland, Aiken, Lexington |
| 12 | I-77 | 134 | 152 | 42 | Richland, York, Chester |
| 13 | US 29 | 134 | 144 | 44 | Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson |
| 14 | US 176 | 133 | 139 | 43 | Spartanburg, Berkeley, Richland |
| 15 | State Highway 34 | 98 | 105 | 23 | Fairfield, Kershaw, Newberry |
| 16 | US 15 | 97 | 108 | 31 | Sumter, Darlington, Marlboro |
| 17 | US 501 | 94 | 98 | 28 | Horry, Marion, Dillon |
| 18 | US 378 | 90 | 105 | 29 | Lexington, Sumter, Florence |
| 19 | US 278 | 86 | 92 | 20 | Beaufort, Aiken, Jasper |
| 20 | US 321 | 86 | 91 | 26 | Orangeburg, Lexington, Jasper |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest counties in South Carolina
Greenville County had the most fatal crashes in South Carolina from 2015 to 2024: 774, with 831 deaths. 46 counties in South Carolina recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville | 82 | 774 | 831 |
| 2 | Horry | 57 | 669 | 714 |
| 3 | Charleston | 55 | 634 | 682 |
| 4 | Spartanburg | 56 | 608 | 672 |
| 5 | Richland | 59 | 553 | 585 |
| 6 | Lexington | 52 | 466 | 501 |
| 7 | Anderson | 45 | 414 | 435 |
| 8 | Berkeley | 37 | 386 | 410 |
| 9 | Orangeburg | 38 | 349 | 387 |
| 10 | Florence | 28 | 315 | 349 |
| 11 | York | 30 | 314 | 338 |
| 12 | Aiken | 27 | 303 | 321 |
| 13 | Sumter | 23 | 229 | 234 |
| 14 | Dorchester | 33 | 226 | 245 |
| 15 | Laurens | 16 | 210 | 238 |
| 16 | Beaufort | 23 | 205 | 225 |
| 17 | Colleton | 16 | 194 | 215 |
| 18 | Darlington | 17 | 194 | 213 |
| 19 | Pickens | 20 | 185 | 203 |
| 20 | Jasper | 15 | 160 | 178 |
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 South Carolina
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 504 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 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 | 4.0 percent, 389 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 181 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 115 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 185 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 292 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 289 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 138 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 181 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 140 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 210 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 298 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 253 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 105 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 159 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 148 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 215 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 289 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 263 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.3 percent, 127 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 174 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 150 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 229 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 290 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 299 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 133 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 160 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 143 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 229 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 271 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 333 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.8 percent, 174 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 190 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 173 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 226 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 344 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 389 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.7 percent, 355 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 215 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 153 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 221 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 360 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 504 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.2%
- Feb7.1%
- Mar8.2%
- Apr8.1%
- May9.1%
- Jun8.5%
- Jul8.4%
- Aug8.7%
- Sep8.3%
- Oct9.8%
- Nov8.6%
- Dec8.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in South Carolina: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| South Carolina | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 59% | 43% | above the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 20% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 43% | 46% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 9.6% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 37% | 28% | above the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on South Carolina roads in 2024
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 690 | 67% |
| Pedestrians | 156 | 15% |
| Motorcyclists | 154 | 15% |
| Cyclists | 34 | 3.3% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 4 | 0.4% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in South Carolina: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (6,299 in South Carolina).
| South Carolina | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 32% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 40% | 27% | above the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 53% | 49% | above the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.2% | 6.5% | below the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 16% | about the same as the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 3,802 | 39% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 3,208 | 33% |
| Pedestrian | 1,540 | 16% |
| Rollover | 538 | 5.6% |
| Other | 272 | 2.8% |
| Cyclist | 228 | 2.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 104 | 1.1% |
| 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
Vehicles in fatal crashes in South Carolina
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (14,401 vehicles).
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 5,759 | 40% |
| SUVs | 2,783 | 19% |
| Pickups | 2,432 | 17% |
| Motorcycles | 1,628 | 11% |
| Truck-tractors | 733 | 5.1% |
| Vans | 561 | 3.9% |
| Other trucks | 468 | 3.2% |
| Buses | 37 | 0.3% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road pages for South Carolina
Every numbered road in South Carolina with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
- I-20
- I-26
- I-385
- I-77
- I-85
- I-95
- State Highway 11
- State Highway 14
- State Highway 19
- State Highway 20
- State Highway 28
- State Highway 291
- State Highway 31
- State Highway 34
- State Highway 41
- State Highway 6
- State Highway 61
- State Highway 62
- State Highway 642
- State Highway 72
- State Highway 81
- State Highway 9
- US 1
- US 123
- US 15
- US 17
- US 176
- US 178
- US 21
- US 221
- US 25
- US 276
- US 278
- US 29
- US 301
- US 321
- US 378
- US 501
- US 52
- US 521
- US 601
- US 701
- US 76
- US 78
Where the South Carolina numbers come from
Every figure on this page is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I35 FRONTAGE" and "I-35" are the same road; frontage roads and ramps are left out of road counts). Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". The full method.