Fatal crashes in Horry County, South Carolina
In 2024, 58 people died in 57 fatal crashes in Horry County, 12.1% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 669 fatal crashes and 714 deaths, the 2nd most of any county in South Carolina.
14 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.9 across South Carolina in 2024; 20 against 20.3 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 413,391, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in South Carolina.
Deaths in Horry County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 57 | 58 |
| 2023 | 64 | 66 |
| 2022 | 78 | 80 |
| 2021 | 73 | 80 |
| 2020 | 56 | 63 |
| 2019 | 72 | 78 |
| 2018 | 67 | 71 |
| 2017 | 64 | 67 |
| 2016 | 62 | 70 |
| 2015 | 76 | 81 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Horry County
US 17 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Horry County from 2015 to 2024: 121, with 129 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 64% of all fatal crashes in Horry County from 2015 to 2024; 4 US routes, 11 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes with 5 or more fatal crashes in the county; county roads and city streets are in the county's total but not listed.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 17 | 121 | 129 | 23 | |
| 2 | US 501 | 70 | 73 | 20 | |
| 3 | State Highway 9 | 43 | 44 | 11 | |
| 4 | US 701 | 39 | 40 | 13 | |
| 5 | State Highway 544 | 27 | 27 | 5 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 31 | 25 | 31 | 11 | |
| 7 | State Highway 90 | 22 | 23 | 6 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 707 | 19 | 19 | 6 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 22 | 13 | 15 | 0 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 905 | 13 | 13 | 4 | no page |
| 11 | US 378 | 9 | 11 | 2 | |
| 12 | State Highway 57 | 8 | 9 | 3 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 19 | 8 | 8 | 6 | |
| 14 | State Highway 1240 | 7 | 7 | 0 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 66 | 6 | 8 | 1 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Myrtle Beach 67, North Myrtle Beach 44, Conway 31, Surfside Beach 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 Horry County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 35 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.7 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 26 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.1 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.8 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 19 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 34 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 4.5 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 28 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.2 percent, 35 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 27 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 35 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.0%
- Feb5.1%
- Mar8.4%
- Apr8.5%
- May12.4%
- Jun8.8%
- Jul8.4%
- Aug8.2%
- Sep6.9%
- Oct11.7%
- Nov7.0%
- Dec8.7%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Horry County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 44%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 23%, a pedestrian in 23%, a rollover in 6.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 291 | 44% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 154 | 23% |
| Pedestrian | 153 | 23% |
| Rollover | 41 | 6.1% |
| Cyclist | 16 | 2.4% |
| Other | 8 | 1.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 6 | 0.9% |
| 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 Horry County compare with South Carolina
A drinking driver was recorded in 27% of fatal crashes in Horry County from 2015 to 2024, below the South Carolina share of 32%; speeding in 33%, below the South Carolina share of 40%; a hit-and-run in 5.5%, above the South Carolina share of 4.2%; a driver recorded as distracted in 1.6%, below the South Carolina share of 5.0%; 53% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, about 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.
| Horry | South Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 46% | 59% | below the South Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 29% | 20% | above the South Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 39% | 37% | above the South Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 27% | 32% | below the South Carolina share |
| Speeding | 33% | 40% | below the South Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 1.6% | 5.0% | below the South Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 53% | 53% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.5% | 4.2% | above the South Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 26% | 16% | above the South Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 23% | 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 Horry County
- How many people died in car accidents in Horry County in 2024?
- 58 people died in 57 fatal crashes in Horry County, South Carolina, in 2024, 12.1% fewer than in 2023. That is 14 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.9 across South Carolina.
- What is the deadliest road in Horry County?
- US 17 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Horry County from 2015 to 2024: 121, with 129 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Horry County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 35 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Horry County involved a drinking driver?
- 180 of 669 fatal crashes in Horry County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 27%, against 32% across South Carolina.
Other counties in South Carolina with a page
- Greenville County
- Charleston 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 Horry County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Horry County (county code 51). 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. The full method.