Traffic fatalities up 14% in N.J.

Statewide, 691 people died in 654 crashes in 2024, according to unofficial statistics from the New Jersey State Police.

The number of fatalities rose 14 percent from 606 in 2023 and was similar to the 689 fatalities in 2022.

In Sussex County, 13 people died in crashes: eight drivers, two passengers, one cyclist and two pedestrians.

Three fatal accidents occurred in Montague, two in Vernon, and one each in Wantage, Hardyston, Lafayette, Franklin, Newton, Andover, Sandyston and Fredon.

The pedestrian deaths occurred on Elm Street in Newton and Augusta Drive in Vernon.

The cyclist was killed on Route 206 in Sandyston.

Four fatal accidents occurred in the morning, six in the afternoon and three after 8 p.m.

New Jersey stats

Statewide, 222 pedestrians were killed in accidents last year, up 30 percent from 171 in 2023 and up 16 percent from 191 in 2022.

Twenty-five cyclists were killed statewide in 2024 compared with 27 in 2023 and 16 in 2022.

Among the drivers killed in crashes, the largest number, 72, were age 50-64.

The largest number of passengers killed, 18, were age 16 or younger.

Among cyclists killed, the largest number, 8, were age 50-64.

Of the pedestrian fatalities, 59 were ages 50-64 and the same number were ages 65-79.

Middlesex County had the largest number of traffic deaths, 62, while the lowest number, 9, occurred in both Cape May and Hunterdon counties.

The highest number of pedestrian deaths, 27, occurred in Essex County, while Cape May and Salem counties had one each.