I-26 in South Carolina: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 288 fatal crashes on I-26 in South Carolina killed 332 people, the 2nd most of any numbered road in South Carolina. In 2024 there were 22 fatal crashes and 30 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 12 counties of South Carolina. All fatal crashes in South Carolina.
Deaths on I-26 in South Carolina by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 36 | 46 |
| 2016 | 28 | 29 |
| 2017 | 20 | 21 |
| 2018 | 42 | 45 |
| 2019 | 25 | 28 |
| 2020 | 31 | 38 |
| 2021 | 36 | 45 |
| 2022 | 25 | 25 |
| 2023 | 23 | 25 |
| 2024 | 22 | 30 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-26 in South Carolina: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Spartanburg County had the most fatal crashes on I-26 from 2015 to 2024: 42, with 57 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spartanburg | 3 | 42 | 57 |
| 2 | Orangeburg | 6 | 40 | 50 |
| 3 | Lexington | 4 | 40 | 47 |
| 4 | Berkeley | 2 | 34 | 38 |
| 5 | Charleston | 1 | 32 | 33 |
| 6 | Dorchester | 0 | 29 | 30 |
| 7 | Richland | 1 | 23 | 24 |
| 8 | Calhoun | 2 | 16 | 19 |
| 9 | Laurens | 2 | 16 | 16 |
| 10 | Newberry | 1 | 14 | 16 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on I-26 in South Carolina
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am, with 19 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is midnight to 1 am; 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 | 6.6 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 3.5 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.3 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.9 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan4.9%
- Feb6.6%
- Mar8.7%
- Apr9.7%
- May8.0%
- Jun4.9%
- Jul10.1%
- Aug10.4%
- Sep8.7%
- Oct13.5%
- Nov7.3%
- Dec7.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on I-26 in South Carolina first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 114 | 40% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 90 | 31% |
| Pedestrian | 29 | 10% |
| Rollover | 23 | 8.0% |
| Other | 17 | 5.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 14 | 4.9% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 0.3% |
| 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 on I-26 in South Carolina compare with the state
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of South Carolina. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-26 | South Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 62% | 59% | above the South Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.0% | 20% | below the South Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 46% | 37% | above the South Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 29% | 32% | below the South Carolina share |
| Speeding | 48% | 40% | above the South Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 42% | 53% | below the South Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.1% | 4.2% | below the South Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 8.7% | 16% | below the South Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 11% | 16% | below the South Carolina share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Other roads in South Carolina with a page
- I-20
- 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
All fatal crashes in South Carolina, with every road ranked.
Where the I-26 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-26 in South Carolina (filed under 2 spellings, such as "I-26", "i-26"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.