Wisconsin highway death toll hits six-year high with two months in 2021 to go

The number of people killed on Wisconsin highways during the first 10 months of the year is at its highest level in at least six years.

As of last week, the state had 510 traffic deaths for 2021 — a mark normally reached in November.

On average since 2016, 87 people are killed in Wisconsin crashes over the last two months of the year, so it’s possible that the 600 mark could be reached for the first time in several years.

The death toll for all of 2020 was 509.

Traffic deaths in Wisconsin have remained below 600 a year for most of the last decade. The toll has been as high as 1,000 per year, dating back to the 1960s, before seat belts were required in U.S. cars.

In La Crosse County, there have been seven fatalities, which is tied for 26th highest in the state. Milwaukee County has the most by far at 70 with Dane County coming in second at 42.

Last year, La Crosse had four deaths. Thirty-one counties had four or fewer deaths. Milwaukee County hit 101 last year, while the second-highest was 33 (Dane).

​​​The figures below represent final year-end total figures for the years 2016-2019. The 2021 and ​2020​ preliminary figures represent fatalities that had been reported to the WisDOT Crash Record​s Unit as of the date shown below.​​