Fatal crashes in Marathon County, Wisconsin
In 2024, 9 people died in 9 fatal crashes in Marathon County, Wisconsin, up from 8 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 110 fatal crashes and 119 deaths, the 11th most of 72 counties in Wisconsin.
Deaths in Marathon County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | 9 |
| 2023 | 8 | 8 |
| 2022 | 12 | 14 |
| 2021 | 14 | 16 |
| 2020 | 8 | 8 |
| 2019 | 13 | 15 |
| 2018 | 10 | 10 |
| 2017 | 15 | 15 |
| 2016 | 8 | 9 |
| 2015 | 13 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Marathon County
State Highway 29 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Marathon County from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 15 deaths. The 6 roads listed held 42% of all fatal crashes in Marathon County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 US route, 4 state highways. 52% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 48% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Highway 29 | 13 | 15 | 5 | no page |
| 2 | I-39 | 8 | 9 | 2 | |
| 3 | State Highway 97 | 7 | 7 | 0 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 13 | 6 | 8 | 1 | |
| 5 | US 51 | 6 | 7 | 1 | |
| 6 | State Highway 153 | 6 | 6 | 3 | no page |
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Wausau 9. 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 Marathon County
108 fatal crashes in Marathon County, Wisconsin from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 10 am to 11 am; 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 | 2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.9 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 5.6 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan2.7%
- Feb4.5%
- Mar4.5%
- Apr12.7%
- May10.0%
- Jun12.7%
- Jul9.1%
- Aug3.6%
- Sep17.3%
- Oct8.2%
- Nov10.0%
- Dec4.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Marathon County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 43%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 27%, a pedestrian in 8.2%, a rollover in 5.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 47 | 43% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 30 | 27% |
| Other | 10 | 9.1% |
| Pedestrian | 9 | 8.2% |
| Rollover | 6 | 5.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 5 | 4.5% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 2.7% |
| 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 Marathon County compare with Wisconsin
The largest difference from Wisconsin: from 2015 to 2024, 34% of occupants killed in Marathon County were unbelted, against 48% across Wisconsin. Also above the Wisconsin share: rural roads. Below it: drinking drivers, speeding and motorcycles. 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 110 crashes.
| Marathon | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 76% | 63% | above the Wisconsin share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 28% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 30% | 27% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| A drinking driver | 23% | 33% | below the Wisconsin share |
| Speeding | 18% | 31% | below the Wisconsin share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 13% | 9.9% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 34% | 48% | below the Wisconsin share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.8% | 5.4% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| A motorcycle involved | 8.2% | 17% | below the Wisconsin share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.2% | 9.5% | about the same as 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 Marathon County, Wisconsin
- How many people died in car accidents in Marathon County in 2024?
- 9 people died in 9 fatal crashes in Marathon County, Wisconsin, in 2024, up from 8 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Marathon County?
- State Highway 29 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Marathon County from 2015 to 2024: 13, with 15 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Marathon County involved a drinking driver?
- 25 of 110 fatal crashes in Marathon County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 23%, against 33% across Wisconsin.
Other counties in Wisconsin with a page
- Milwaukee County
- Dane County
- Waukesha County
- Rock County
- Racine County
- Kenosha County
- Brown County
- Walworth County
- Outagamie County
- Dodge County
- Fond du Lac County
- Winnebago County
All fatal crashes in Wisconsin, with every county ranked.
Where the Marathon County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Marathon County (county code 73). 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/marathon-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”