Fatal crashes in Portage County, Wisconsin
In 2024, 6 people died in 6 fatal crashes in Portage County, Wisconsin, up from 3 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 54 fatal crashes and 56 deaths, the 37th most of 72 counties in Wisconsin.
Deaths in Portage County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 6 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3 |
| 2022 | 9 | 9 |
| 2021 | 10 | 11 |
| 2020 | 4 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 |
| 2018 | 7 | 8 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Numbered roads with fatal crashes in Portage County
The 2 roads listed held 24% of all fatal crashes in Portage County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 1 US route. 43% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 57% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Stevens Point 6. 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 Portage County
50 fatal crashes in Portage 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 noon to 1 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 | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 10.0 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 6.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan5.6%
- Feb5.6%
- Mar7.4%
- Apr7.4%
- May3.7%
- Jun9.3%
- Jul9.3%
- Aug9.3%
- Sep13.0%
- Oct9.3%
- Nov13.0%
- Dec7.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Portage County first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 50%; a collision with another vehicle in 30%, a rollover in 9.3%, a pedestrian in 3.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 27 | 50% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 16 | 30% |
| Rollover | 5 | 9.3% |
| Other | 3 | 5.6% |
| Pedestrian | 2 | 3.7% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 Portage County compare with Wisconsin
The largest difference from Wisconsin: from 2015 to 2024, 77% of fatal crashes in Portage County were on rural roads, against 63% across Wisconsin. 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 54 crashes.
| Portage | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 77% | 63% | above the Wisconsin share |
| At or near an intersection | 24% | 28% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 32% | 27% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| A drinking driver | 39% | 33% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| Speeding | 37% | 31% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 9.3% | 9.9% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 50% | 48% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.9% | 5.4% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| A motorcycle involved | 13% | 17% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 3.6% | 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 Portage County, Wisconsin
- How many people died in car accidents in Portage County in 2024?
- 6 people died in 6 fatal crashes in Portage County, Wisconsin, in 2024, up from 3 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- How many fatal crashes in Portage County involved a drinking driver?
- 21 of 54 fatal crashes in Portage County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 39%, 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
- Marathon County
- Fond du Lac County
All fatal crashes in Wisconsin, with every county ranked.
Where the Portage County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Portage County (county code 97). 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/portage-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”