Fatal crashes in Beaufort County, South Carolina
In 2024, 27 people died in 23 fatal crashes in Beaufort County, South Carolina, 28.6% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 205 fatal crashes and 225 deaths, the 16th most of 46 counties in South Carolina.
13.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.9 across South Carolina in 2024; 11.8 against 20.3 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 201,775, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in South Carolina.
Deaths in Beaufort County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23 | 27 |
| 2023 | 18 | 21 |
| 2022 | 22 | 22 |
| 2021 | 22 | 26 |
| 2020 | 16 | 20 |
| 2019 | 13 | 15 |
| 2018 | 21 | 21 |
| 2017 | 25 | 26 |
| 2016 | 29 | 30 |
| 2015 | 16 | 17 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Beaufort County
US 278 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Beaufort County from 2015 to 2024: 47, with 50 deaths. The 5 roads listed held 65% of all fatal crashes in Beaufort County from 2015 to 2024; 3 US routes, 2 state highways. 89% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 11% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 278 | 47 | 50 | 14 | |
| 2 | US 21 | 39 | 46 | 13 | |
| 3 | State Highway 170 | 29 | 32 | 8 | no page |
| 4 | US 17 | 12 | 12 | 7 | |
| 5 | State Highway 46 | 7 | 8 | 4 | no page |
Hilton Head Isl had 13% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 26 of 205.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Hilton Head Isl 26, Bluffton 19, Beaufort 8, Port Royal 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 Beaufort County
The heaviest slot is Monday, 8 pm to midnight, with 14 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 10 pm to 11 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 | 4.9 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 6.8 percent, 14 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.4 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.8%
- Feb8.3%
- Mar7.3%
- Apr7.3%
- May7.8%
- Jun8.8%
- Jul8.3%
- Aug8.8%
- Sep6.8%
- Oct11.7%
- Nov10.7%
- Dec6.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Beaufort County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 42%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 25%, a pedestrian in 21%, a cyclist in 8.3%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 85 | 42% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 51 | 25% |
| Pedestrian | 43 | 21% |
| Cyclist | 17 | 8.3% |
| Rollover | 4 | 2.0% |
| Other | 4 | 2.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.5% |
| 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 Beaufort County compare with South Carolina
The largest difference from South Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 40% of fatal crashes in Beaufort County were at or near an intersection, against 20% across South Carolina. Below the South Carolina share: rural roads and speeding. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of South Carolina. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 205 crashes.
| Beaufort | South Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 40% | 59% | below the South Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 40% | 20% | above the South Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 42% | 37% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 29% | 32% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Speeding | 33% | 40% | below the South Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.4% | 5.0% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 54% | 53% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.4% | 4.2% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 16% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 19% | 16% | about the same as the South Carolina 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 Beaufort County, South Carolina
- How many people died in car accidents in Beaufort County in 2024?
- 27 people died in 23 fatal crashes in Beaufort County, South Carolina, in 2024, 28.6% more than in 2023. That is 13.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.9 across South Carolina. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Beaufort County?
- US 278 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Beaufort County from 2015 to 2024: 47, with 50 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Beaufort County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Monday, 8 pm to midnight, with 14 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Beaufort County involved a drinking driver?
- 59 of 205 fatal crashes in Beaufort County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 29%, against 32% across South Carolina.
Other counties in South Carolina with a page
- Greenville County
- Horry County
- Charleston County
- Spartanburg County
- Richland County
- Lexington County
- Anderson County
- Berkeley County
- Orangeburg County
- Florence County
- York County
- Aiken County
All fatal crashes in South Carolina, with every county ranked.
Where the Beaufort County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Beaufort County (county code 13). 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/south-carolina/beaufort-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”