Fatal crashes in Richland County, South Carolina
In 2024, 63 people died in 59 fatal crashes in Richland County, South Carolina, 5.0% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 553 fatal crashes and 585 deaths, the 5th most of 46 counties in South Carolina.
14.6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.9 across South Carolina in 2024; 14 against 20.3 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 430,651, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in South Carolina.
Deaths in Richland County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 59 | 63 |
| 2023 | 58 | 60 |
| 2022 | 65 | 67 |
| 2021 | 70 | 74 |
| 2020 | 49 | 55 |
| 2019 | 47 | 50 |
| 2018 | 49 | 50 |
| 2017 | 49 | 52 |
| 2016 | 64 | 69 |
| 2015 | 43 | 45 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Richland County
US 76 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Richland County from 2015 to 2024: 49, with 49 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 67% of all fatal crashes in Richland County from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 6 US routes, 6 state highways. 95% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 4.9% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 76 | 49 | 49 | 14 | |
| 2 | I-77 | 48 | 53 | 15 | |
| 3 | US 1 | 43 | 48 | 13 | |
| 4 | I-20 | 40 | 46 | 12 | |
| 5 | State Highway 48 | 27 | 29 | 7 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 555 | 25 | 27 | 11 | no page |
| 7 | I-26 | 23 | 24 | 5 | |
| 8 | US 176 | 23 | 23 | 9 | |
| 9 | State Highway 12 | 19 | 20 | 7 | no page |
| 10 | US 21 | 19 | 19 | 6 | |
| 11 | State Highway 262 | 13 | 13 | 2 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 277 | 11 | 12 | 5 | no page |
| 13 | US 601 | 11 | 12 | 6 | |
| 14 | State Highway 16 | 10 | 10 | 5 | no page |
| 15 | US 321 | 10 | 10 | 4 |
Columbia had 31% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 173 of 553.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Columbia 173, Irmo 7, Forest Acres 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 Richland County
The heaviest slot is Wednesday, 8 pm to midnight, with 35 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is November.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.0 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 14 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 16 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.2 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 6.3 percent, 35 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.2 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.0 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 23 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.8 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 5.4 percent, 30 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.7%
- Feb5.4%
- Mar9.0%
- Apr8.1%
- May8.1%
- Jun8.7%
- Jul9.0%
- Aug8.3%
- Sep8.5%
- Oct8.5%
- Nov9.9%
- Dec9.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Richland 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 28%, a pedestrian in 23%, a rollover in 5.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 197 | 36% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 153 | 28% |
| Pedestrian | 127 | 23% |
| Rollover | 28 | 5.1% |
| Other | 26 | 4.7% |
| Parked vehicle | 12 | 2.2% |
| Cyclist | 10 | 1.8% |
| 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 Richland County compare with South Carolina
The largest difference from South Carolina: from 2015 to 2024, 26% of fatal crashes in Richland County were on rural roads, against 59% across South Carolina. Also above the South Carolina share: drinking drivers, hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Below it: distracted drivers. 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 553 crashes.
| Richland | South Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 26% | 59% | below the South Carolina share |
| At or near an intersection | 21% | 20% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 34% | 37% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| A drinking driver | 38% | 32% | above the South Carolina share |
| Speeding | 37% | 40% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 1.8% | 5.0% | below the South Carolina share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 57% | 53% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Hit-and-run | 7.1% | 4.2% | above the South Carolina share |
| A motorcycle involved | 18% | 16% | about the same as the South Carolina share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 24% | 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 Richland County, South Carolina
- How many people died in car accidents in Richland County in 2024?
- 63 people died in 59 fatal crashes in Richland County, South Carolina, in 2024, 5.0% more than in 2023. That is 14.6 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 Richland County?
- US 76 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Richland County from 2015 to 2024: 49, with 49 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Richland County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Wednesday, 8 pm to midnight, with 35 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Richland County involved a drinking driver?
- 211 of 553 fatal crashes in Richland County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 38%, against 32% across South Carolina.
Other counties in South Carolina with a page
- Greenville County
- Horry County
- Charleston County
- Spartanburg 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 Richland County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Richland County (county code 79). 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/richland-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”