US 51 in Wisconsin: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 69 fatal crashes on US 51 in Wisconsin killed 72 people, the 8th most of any numbered road in Wisconsin. In 2024 there were 8 fatal crashes and 10 deaths on the road.
An US route running through 9 counties of Wisconsin. All fatal crashes in Wisconsin.
Deaths on US 51 in Wisconsin by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 7 | 7 |
| 2016 | 7 | 7 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 |
| 2021 | 12 | 13 |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 |
| 2023 | 6 | 6 |
| 2024 | 8 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 51 in Wisconsin: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Dane County had the most fatal crashes on US 51 from 2015 to 2024: 20, with 21 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dane | 3 | 20 | 21 |
| 2 | Rock | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| 3 | Oneida | 3 | 9 | 10 |
| 4 | Marathon | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| 5 | Columbia | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Iron | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | Lincoln | 2 | 5 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 51 in Wisconsin
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan13.0%
- Feb4.3%
- Mar7.2%
- Apr10.1%
- May8.7%
- Jun11.6%
- Jul5.8%
- Aug8.7%
- Sep14.5%
- Oct5.8%
- Nov8.7%
- Dec1.4%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 51 in Wisconsin first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 44 | 64% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 8 | 12% |
| Pedestrian | 6 | 8.7% |
| Rollover | 5 | 7.2% |
| Other | 3 | 4.3% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 2.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.4% |
| 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 on US 51 in Wisconsin compare with the state
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Wisconsin. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| US 51 | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 62% | 63% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| At or near an intersection | 29% | 28% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 17% | 27% | below the Wisconsin share |
| A drinking driver | 32% | 33% | below the Wisconsin share |
| Speeding | 32% | 31% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 24% | 48% | below the Wisconsin share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.8% | 5.4% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| A motorcycle involved | 20% | 17% | above the Wisconsin share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.7% | 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
Other roads in Wisconsin with a page
- I-39
- I-41
- I-43
- I-94
- State Highway 11
- State Highway 13
- State Highway 145
- State Highway 190
- State Highway 32
- State Highway 35
- US 10
- US 12
All fatal crashes in Wisconsin, with every road ranked.
Where the US 51 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 51 in Wisconsin (filed under 6 spellings, such as "US-51", "US-51 N STOUGHTON RD", "US-51 / STOUGHTON RD N", "US-51 CENTER AVE"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.