Truck accident statistics for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)

Truck accident deaths in Lancaster County by year

Truck accident deaths numbered 7 in 2020, 12 in 2021, 12 in 2022, 7 in 2023 and 13 in 2024. The highest count was 13 in 2024; the lowest count was 7, recorded in both 2020 and 2023. The 2024 count was 6 deaths higher than the 2020 count. After remaining unchanged from 2021 to 2022, deaths fell in 2023 and rose in 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The share of all traffic deaths attributed to truck accidents was 14.9% in 2020, 16.4% in 2021, 21.1% in 2022, 13.7% in 2023 and 25.0% in 2024. All traffic deaths for those years were 47, 73, 57, 51 and 52, respectively. The highest truck accident death share occurred in 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in Lancaster County truck accidents

People in the large truck accounted for 3 deaths, or 5.9%. People in other vehicles accounted for 42 deaths, or 82.4%, the largest person category. These categories describe the people killed in truck accidents, rather than the number of vehicles involved.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The row "Pedestrians, bicyclists and other people outside vehicles" recorded 6 deaths, or 11.8%. This is the FARS nonoccupant grouping, which includes pedestrians, pedalcyclists and other or unknown nonoccupants. The other category can include occupants of motor vehicles not in transport, such as parked vehicles, so the label is not a literal test of being outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The trucks involved

The vehicle count for 2020 through 2024 was 43 large trucks in fatal crashes. Truck-tractors, described as semi or tractor-trailer units, numbered 20 and represented 46.5% of those trucks. Single-unit and other large trucks numbered 23. Large trucks recorded as jackknifed numbered 0.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

These are vehicle counts, separate from the county's 43 fatal truck accident crashes and 51 deaths. A crash can involve multiple large trucks. Although the truck count and fatal crash count are both 43, the measures count different things and should retain their separate labels.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

Counts are trucks, not crashes. One crash can involve more than one large truck.

How the fatal truck crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) recorded 20 deaths, or 39.2%; head-on, 10, or 19.6%; rear-end, 8, or 15.7%; and sideswipe, 3, or 5.9%. "Not a collision with another moving vehicle" recorded 10 deaths, or 19.6%. That row means no collision with a motor vehicle in transport, including events such as striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Separate crash configuration figures group deaths by the number of vehicles involved: single-vehicle crashes accounted for 9 deaths, or 17.6%; two-vehicle crashes, 34, or 66.7%; and crashes involving three or more vehicles, 8, or 15.7%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Interstates, time of day and setting

Interstate truck accident deaths numbered 7, or 13.7%. The listed route-coded count for I-76 was 7 deaths. Interstate figures require an interstate route classification and a readable interstate route number; the listed routes are a coded subset, not a full road network.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime recorded 32 deaths, or 62.7%, and nighttime recorded 19, or 37.3%. Urban locations accounted for 28 deaths, or 54.9%; rural locations, 22, or 43.1%; and locations with land use not reported, 1, or 2.0%. Work-zone deaths numbered 0. Each of these figures counts deaths in truck accidents, rather than trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Truck accident death rate compared with Pennsylvania and the United States

Lancaster County's truck accident death rate was 1.8 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Pennsylvania's rate was 1.3, and the United States rate was 1.6. The county rate was higher than both. These rates measure deaths by crash location against population estimates; they do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, York County had a rate of 1.3, Berks County 1.4, Dauphin County 1.7 and Lebanon County 3.1. Lancaster County's rate was higher than York, Berks and Dauphin and lower than Lebanon. Lebanon had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties, while York had the lowest. For readers searching for a truck accident lawyer, keep these population-based rates distinct from death counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

About these figures

FARS is a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes on trafficways customarily open to the public, with an occupant or nonoccupant death within 30 days. Counts follow the crash county, not the person's home county. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. The 2020 through 2023 figures use Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File and may change when replaced by the Final File.^[9][6][7][8]

Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The result is average annual deaths per 100,000 residents, without adjustment for miles driven or visitors. The separately shown July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[9][6][7][8]

See also

• Truck accident statistics for Berks County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)
• Truck accident statistics for Chester County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)
• Truck accident statistics for Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Car accident statistics for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024) (caraccidentlawyers.wiki)