Fatal crashes in Salt Lake County, Utah
In 2024, 73 people died in 69 fatal crashes in Salt Lake County, Utah, 7.4% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 700 fatal crashes and 736 deaths, the most of any county in Utah.
6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 7.9 across Utah in 2024; 6.3 against 8.7 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 1,216,274, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Utah.
Deaths in Salt Lake County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 69 | 73 |
| 2023 | 61 | 68 |
| 2022 | 88 | 94 |
| 2021 | 80 | 82 |
| 2020 | 68 | 71 |
| 2019 | 65 | 67 |
| 2018 | 64 | 67 |
| 2017 | 65 | 69 |
| 2016 | 67 | 69 |
| 2015 | 73 | 76 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Salt Lake County
State Highway 68 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Salt Lake County from 2015 to 2024: 56, with 58 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 52% of all fatal crashes in Salt Lake County from 2015 to 2024; 3 are interstates, 1 US route, 11 state highways. 58% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 42% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 68 | 56 | 58 | 15 | |
| 2 | US 89 | 44 | 46 | 19 | |
| 3 | I-15 | 44 | 45 | 10 | |
| 4 | I-215 | 29 | 33 | 10 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 201 | 28 | 30 | 5 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 171 | 27 | 28 | 5 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 154 | 25 | 26 | 4 | no page |
| 8 | State Highway 85 | 22 | 26 | 10 | no page |
| 9 | State Highway 71 | 21 | 24 | 10 | no page |
| 10 | I-80 | 21 | 21 | 9 | |
| 11 | State Highway 173 | 15 | 16 | 1 | no page |
| 12 | State Highway 172 | 11 | 12 | 4 | no page |
| 13 | State Highway 186 | 7 | 8 | 3 | no page |
| 14 | State Highway 210 | 7 | 7 | 3 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 266 | 6 | 7 | 1 | no page |
Salt Lake City had 26% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 185 of 700.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Salt Lake City 185, West Valley City 108, West Jordan 42, South Salt Lake 37, Taylorsville 37, Murray 35, Draper 31, Sandy City 23. 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 Salt Lake County
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 37 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 8 pm to 9 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.9 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 21 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 33 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 18 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 29 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.3 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 5.3 percent, 37 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.6%
- Feb6.4%
- Mar8.6%
- Apr6.7%
- May7.4%
- Jun9.0%
- Jul11.1%
- Aug8.6%
- Sep9.1%
- Oct9.4%
- Nov8.4%
- Dec8.6%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Salt Lake County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 41%; a pedestrian in 26%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 17%, a rollover in 5.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 285 | 41% |
| Pedestrian | 185 | 26% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 117 | 17% |
| Other | 42 | 6.0% |
| Rollover | 40 | 5.7% |
| Cyclist | 20 | 2.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 11 | 1.6% |
| 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 Salt Lake County compare with Utah
The largest difference from Utah: from 2015 to 2024, 5.9% of fatal crashes in Salt Lake County were on rural roads, against 40% across Utah. Also above the Utah share: intersections, hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Below it: unlit roads at night. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Utah. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 700 crashes.
| Salt Lake | Utah | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 5.9% | 40% | below the Utah share |
| At or near an intersection | 41% | 27% | above the Utah share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 20% | 24% | below the Utah share |
| A drinking driver | 25% | 23% | about the same as the Utah share |
| Speeding | 28% | 29% | about the same as the Utah share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.9% | 6.8% | about the same as the Utah share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 42% | 45% | about the same as the Utah share |
| Hit-and-run | 9.1% | 3.9% | above the Utah share |
| A motorcycle involved | 18% | 16% | about the same as the Utah share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 26% | 14% | above the Utah 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 Salt Lake County, Utah
- How many people died in car accidents in Salt Lake County in 2024?
- 73 people died in 69 fatal crashes in Salt Lake County, Utah, in 2024, 7.4% more than in 2023. That is 6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 7.9 across Utah. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Salt Lake County?
- State Highway 68 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Salt Lake County from 2015 to 2024: 56, with 58 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Salt Lake County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 37 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Salt Lake County involved a drinking driver?
- 177 of 700 fatal crashes in Salt Lake County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 25%, against 23% across Utah.
Other counties in Utah with a page
- Utah County
- Weber County
- Washington County
- Davis County
- Tooele County
- Box Elder County
- Cache County
- Wasatch County
- San Juan County
- Iron County
- Grand County
- Millard County
All fatal crashes in Utah, with every county ranked.
Where the Salt Lake County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Salt Lake 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/utah/salt-lake-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”