Fatal crashes in Charleston County, South Carolina
In 2024, 61 people died in 55 fatal crashes in Charleston County, South Carolina, 18.7% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 634 fatal crashes and 682 deaths, the 3rd most of 46 counties in South Carolina.
14.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.9 across South Carolina in 2024; 16.6 against 20.3 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 431,001, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in South Carolina.
Deaths in Charleston County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 55 | 61 |
| 2023 | 70 | 75 |
| 2022 | 57 | 64 |
| 2021 | 72 | 77 |
| 2020 | 68 | 73 |
| 2019 | 72 | 76 |
| 2018 | 61 | 66 |
| 2017 | 66 | 72 |
| 2016 | 50 | 54 |
| 2015 | 63 | 64 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Charleston County
US 17 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Charleston County from 2015 to 2024: 112, with 121 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 68% of all fatal crashes in Charleston County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 3 US routes, 10 state highways. 92% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 7.6% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 17 | 112 | 121 | 26 | |
| 2 | US 52 | 55 | 61 | 17 | |
| 3 | State Highway 642 | 36 | 41 | 16 | |
| 4 | I-26 | 32 | 33 | 11 | |
| 5 | US 78 | 26 | 26 | 8 | |
| 6 | State Highway 162 | 25 | 26 | 12 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 61 | 24 | 25 | 5 | |
| 8 | State Highway 700 | 22 | 24 | 6 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 7 | 19 | 21 | 5 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 20 | 18 | 18 | 3 | |
| 11 | I-526 | 16 | 17 | 5 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 171 | 16 | 16 | 1 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 165 | 10 | 11 | 5 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 881 | 9 | 10 | 1 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 174 | 9 | 9 | 3 | no page |
Charleston had 31% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 198 of 634.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Charleston 198, North Charleston 169, Hollywood 30, Mt Pleasant 25, Ravenel 22, Meggett 10, Awendaw 9, Mount Pleasant 7. 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 Charleston County
The heaviest slot is Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 32 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 10 pm to 11 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.8 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 0.5 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 26 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.4 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 20 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 26 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 17 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.4 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 30 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.4 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 5.0 percent, 32 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.6 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 28 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.6%
- Feb8.0%
- Mar9.1%
- Apr7.7%
- May7.9%
- Jun7.7%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug9.5%
- Sep7.3%
- Oct9.3%
- Nov9.3%
- Dec7.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Charleston County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 36%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a pedestrian in 26%, a cyclist in 5.2%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 228 | 36% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 168 | 27% |
| Pedestrian | 162 | 26% |
| Cyclist | 33 | 5.2% |
| Other | 22 | 3.5% |
| Rollover | 17 | 2.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 0.6% |
| 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 Charleston County compare with South Carolina
The largest difference from South Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 20% of fatal crashes in Charleston County were on rural roads, against 59% across South Carolina. Also above the South Carolina share: intersections, hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Below it: unlit roads at night 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 634 crashes.
| Charleston | South Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 20% | 59% | below the South Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 24% | 20% | above the South Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 26% | 37% | below the South Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 32% | 32% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Speeding | 36% | 40% | below the South Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 5.4% | 5.0% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 56% | 53% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.8% | 4.2% | above the South Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 16% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 25% | 16% | above 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 Charleston County, South Carolina
- How many people died in car accidents in Charleston County in 2024?
- 61 people died in 55 fatal crashes in Charleston County, South Carolina, in 2024, 18.7% fewer than in 2023. That is 14.2 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 Charleston County?
- US 17 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Charleston County from 2015 to 2024: 112, with 121 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Charleston County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 8 pm to midnight, with 32 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Charleston County involved a drinking driver?
- 204 of 634 fatal crashes in Charleston County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 32%, against 32% across South Carolina.
Other counties in South Carolina with a page
- Greenville County
- Horry County
- Spartanburg County
- Richland County
- Lexington County
- Anderson County
- Berkeley County
- Orangeburg County
- Florence County
- York County
- Aiken County
- Sumter County
All fatal crashes in South Carolina, with every county ranked.
Where the Charleston County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Charleston County (county code 19). 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/charleston-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”