Illinois DOT — fatal crash data snapshot · to 21 October 2026
Illinois Traffic Deaths 2026 So Far
Quick answer: 787 people have died in traffic crashes in Illinois in 2026, to 21 October 2026, against 966 by the same date in 2025 (-19%).
787
Deaths in 2026
to 21 October 2026
966
Same date 2025
-19% this year
Preliminary IDOT count behind its fatal crash snapshot dashboard. Last year's figures stop at the same month and day as this year's newest record. Source: Illinois DOT — fatal crash data snapshot; checked every 6 hours.
Related: other states so far this year · most dangerous counties in Illinois · deadliest roads in Illinois · Illinois road deaths by year
Questions
Deaths this year — FAQ
How many people have died on Illinois roads in 2026?
787 people have died in traffic crashes in Illinois in 2026, to 21 October 2026, against 966 by the same date in 2025 (-19%).
Are these final numbers?
No. These are running counts published during the year. Preliminary IDOT count behind its fatal crash snapshot dashboard. NHTSA publishes final national figures (FARS) about a year after the year ends.
Why only these states?
Only some states publish a running count in a form we can read automatically and check. We add a state when its official count becomes available as data, rather than copying numbers from news reports.