Fatal crashes in Dane County, Wisconsin
In 2024, 38 people died in 30 fatal crashes in Dane County, Wisconsin, 31.0% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 311 fatal crashes and 352 deaths, the 2nd most of 72 counties in Wisconsin.
6.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 10 across Wisconsin in 2024; 6.3 against 10.2 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 588,347, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Wisconsin.
Deaths in Dane County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30 | 38 |
| 2023 | 27 | 29 |
| 2022 | 34 | 40 |
| 2021 | 43 | 47 |
| 2020 | 27 | 32 |
| 2019 | 25 | 25 |
| 2018 | 34 | 41 |
| 2017 | 28 | 32 |
| 2016 | 33 | 38 |
| 2015 | 30 | 30 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Dane County
US 12 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Dane County from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 27 deaths. The 10 roads listed held 44% of all fatal crashes in Dane County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 5 US routes, 3 state highways. 49% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 51% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 12 | 26 | 27 | 8 | |
| 2 | US 151 | 22 | 23 | 7 | |
| 3 | US 51 | 20 | 21 | 4 | |
| 4 | I-39 | 18 | 21 | 7 | |
| 5 | US 14 | 13 | 15 | 4 | |
| 6 | State Highway 113 | 12 | 16 | 4 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 19 | 10 | 13 | 3 | no page |
| 8 | I-94 | 6 | 9 | 0 | |
| 9 | US 18 | 6 | 6 | 1 | |
| 10 | State Highway 69 | 5 | 6 | 0 | no page |
Madison had 32% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 99 of 311.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Madison 99, Sun Prairie 9, Fitchburg 8, Monona 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 Dane County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, 4 to 8 pm, with 13 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 7 pm to 8 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.3 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.7 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.0 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.4 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.4%
- Feb6.4%
- Mar5.8%
- Apr7.7%
- May8.0%
- Jun10.3%
- Jul9.3%
- Aug8.7%
- Sep12.2%
- Oct8.4%
- Nov7.7%
- Dec7.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Dane County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 40%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 32%, a pedestrian in 14%, a rollover in 5.8%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 123 | 40% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 99 | 32% |
| Pedestrian | 43 | 14% |
| Rollover | 18 | 5.8% |
| Other | 15 | 4.8% |
| Cyclist | 11 | 3.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 0.6% |
| 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 Dane County compare with Wisconsin
The largest difference from Wisconsin: from 2015 to 2024, 47% of fatal crashes in Dane County were on rural roads, against 63% across Wisconsin. Also above the Wisconsin share: pedestrians. Below it: unbelted occupants. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Wisconsin. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 311 crashes.
| Dane | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 47% | 63% | below the Wisconsin share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 28% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 26% | 27% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| A drinking driver | 34% | 33% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| Speeding | 30% | 31% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 7.4% | 9.9% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 40% | 48% | below the Wisconsin share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.4% | 5.4% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| A motorcycle involved | 17% | 17% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 9.5% | above the Wisconsin 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 Dane County, Wisconsin
- How many people died in car accidents in Dane County in 2024?
- 38 people died in 30 fatal crashes in Dane County, Wisconsin, in 2024, 31.0% more than in 2023. That is 6.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 10 across Wisconsin. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Dane County?
- US 12 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Dane County from 2015 to 2024: 26, with 27 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Dane County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, 4 to 8 pm, with 13 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Dane County involved a drinking driver?
- 107 of 311 fatal crashes in Dane County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 34%, against 33% across Wisconsin.
Other counties in Wisconsin with a page
- Milwaukee County
- Waukesha County
- Rock County
- Racine County
- Kenosha County
- Brown County
- Walworth County
- Outagamie County
- Dodge County
- Marathon County
- Fond du Lac County
- Winnebago County
All fatal crashes in Wisconsin, with every county ranked.
Where the Dane County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Dane County (county code 25). 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/wisconsin/dane-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”