Schuylkill County Traffic Fatalities Spiked 36% in 2021

Fatalities on Schuylkill County roadways spiked 36% in 2021 over the previous year.

The 26 deaths recorded on Schuylkill County roads is the highest since 2014 and is 7 more than the 19 recorded in 2020, according to new data from the state Transportation Dept.

Overall, roadway deaths jumped 9% in Pennsylvania in 2021, which PennDOT says is in line with the rate nationwide, citing data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Whether you are a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or bicyclist, we can all do our part to prevent crashes and fatalities. Buckle up every time you are in a vehicle. Always cross the road at an intersection or crosswalk. Always wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle or bicycle. Never drive, ride, or walk impaired or distracted. Let’s work together to reduce traffic deaths, because even one fatality is one too many,” says PennDOT secretary Yassmin Gramian.

26 Roadway Deaths in Schuylkill County During 2021

Impaired driving accounted for half of the 26 fatalities in Schuylkill County. Those 13 deaths are 4 more than the number recorded, 9, in 2020 in Schuylkill County.

However, the number of roadway deaths blamed on impaired drivers dropped statewide. In Pennsylvania during 2021, 450 roadway deaths were blamed on an impaired driver, down from 471 in 2020. Despite the drop, that’s still 35% of all traffic fatalities, according to PennDOT.

Pedestrian deaths increased in 2021 by 36 over 2020’s total (182 from 146). There was 1 pedestrian fatality recorded in Schuylkill County during 2021, down from 3 in 2020 and 2 each in 2019 and 2018.

There were 6 motorcycle fatalities in 2021, the same as in 2020. And that’s the most since 2011, when there were 7 recorded in Schuylkill County.

Here’s a look at the total number of traffic fatalities in counties surrounding Schuylkill in 2021:

• Schuylkill: 26
• Luzerne: 41
• Carbon: 11
• Lehigh: 30
• Berks: 46
• Lebanon: 26
• Dauphin: 41
• Northumberland: 7
• Columbia: 5