Fatal crashes in Dorchester County, South Carolina
In 2024, 38 people died in 33 fatal crashes in Dorchester County, South Carolina, up from 15 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 226 fatal crashes and 245 deaths, the 14th most of 46 counties in South Carolina.
21.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.9 across South Carolina in 2024; 15.1 against 20.3 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 174,663, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in South Carolina.
Deaths in Dorchester County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 33 | 38 |
| 2023 | 15 | 15 |
| 2022 | 19 | 20 |
| 2021 | 22 | 26 |
| 2020 | 22 | 24 |
| 2019 | 18 | 19 |
| 2018 | 23 | 23 |
| 2017 | 16 | 16 |
| 2016 | 29 | 32 |
| 2015 | 29 | 32 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Dorchester County
US 17 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Dorchester County from 2015 to 2024: 29, with 34 deaths. The 11 roads listed held 69% of all fatal crashes in Dorchester County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 3 US routes, 6 state highways. 92% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 8.0% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 17 | 29 | 34 | 11 | |
| 2 | I-26 | 29 | 30 | 4 | |
| 3 | US 78 | 20 | 20 | 8 | |
| 4 | State Highway 642 | 17 | 20 | 5 | |
| 5 | State Highway 61 | 14 | 15 | 2 | |
| 6 | State Highway 62 | 12 | 12 | 6 | |
| 7 | I-95 | 10 | 14 | 0 | |
| 8 | US 15 | 8 | 9 | 3 | |
| 9 | State Highway 165 | 7 | 7 | 2 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 13 | 6 | 6 | 0 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 230 | 5 | 5 | 1 | no page |
Summerville had 12% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 28 of 226.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Summerville 28, North Charleston 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 Dorchester County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 11 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is midnight to 1 am; the worst month is March.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.4%
- Feb8.4%
- Mar10.2%
- Apr6.6%
- May9.3%
- Jun8.0%
- Jul10.2%
- Aug9.3%
- Sep8.0%
- Oct10.2%
- Nov9.3%
- Dec6.2%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Dorchester County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 43%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 28%, a pedestrian in 14%, a rollover in 7.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 98 | 43% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 64 | 28% |
| Pedestrian | 31 | 14% |
| Rollover | 17 | 7.5% |
| Other | 9 | 4.0% |
| Cyclist | 6 | 2.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.4% |
| 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 Dorchester County compare with South Carolina
From 2015 to 2024, every share for Dorchester County is within chance of the South Carolina share. 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 226 crashes.
| Dorchester | South Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 62% | 59% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 16% | 20% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 37% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 35% | 32% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Speeding | 37% | 40% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.1% | 5.0% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 48% | 53% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.2% | 4.2% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 16% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 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 Dorchester County, South Carolina
- How many people died in car accidents in Dorchester County in 2024?
- 38 people died in 33 fatal crashes in Dorchester County, South Carolina, in 2024, up from 15 in 2023. That is 21.8 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 Dorchester County?
- US 17 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Dorchester County from 2015 to 2024: 29, with 34 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Dorchester County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 11 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Dorchester County involved a drinking driver?
- 78 of 226 fatal crashes in Dorchester County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 35%, 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 Dorchester County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Dorchester County (county code 35). 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/dorchester-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”