Fatal Roads

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Inyo County

Residents 18,485Deaths 2024 15Deaths 2015–2024 85Latest data year 2024

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.

NHTSA's FARS file lists 85 people killed in 68 fatal crashes in Inyo County, California, between 2015 and 2024, 15 of them in 2024.

With 18,485 residents, that is 46.3 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, about 4.6 times the California rate of 10.1 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll was about level between 2005–2014 (82) and 2015–2024 (85).

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 15.3% against 14.1% for California.

42% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Saturday was the most common day (22%).

15deaths in 202412 fatal crashes
49deaths, 2020–202485 over ten years
46.3per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 81.1
+358%vs California ratestate 10.1 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

01529197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 14 deaths1976: 15 deaths1977: 15 deaths1978: 24 deaths1979: 24 deaths1980: 18 deaths1981: 29 deaths1982: 11 deaths1983: 13 deaths1984: 17 deaths1985: 23 deaths1986: 16 deaths1987: 14 deaths1988: 19 deaths1989: 17 deaths1990: 22 deaths1991: 10 deaths1992: 17 deaths1993: 5 deaths1994: 18 deaths1995: 18 deaths1996: 15 deaths1997: 24 deaths1998: 21 deaths1999: 17 deaths2000: 11 deaths2001: 16 deaths2002: 10 deaths2003: 14 deaths2004: 7 deaths2005: 11 deaths2006: 18 deaths2007: 10 deaths2008: 10 deaths2009: 6 deaths2010: 8 deaths2011: 9 deaths2012: 7 deaths2013: 3 deaths2014: 0 deaths2015: 6 deaths2016: 7 deaths2017: 11 deaths2018: 0 deaths2019: 12 deaths2020: 12 deaths2021: 3 deaths2022: 12 deaths2023: 7 deaths2024: 15 deaths
People killed in crashes in Inyo County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 15 deaths.

Ten-year total up 4% (82 in 2005–2014, 85 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.

Compared with California and the nation

MeasureInyoCaliforniaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202446.310.111.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202481.19.811.5
Deaths, 2015–20248539,702389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20246836,640358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.31.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+4%+17%+7%
Crashes on rural roads99%30%43%

Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 18,485 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking22.1%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver13.2%
Pedestriansshare of people killed3.5%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed15.3%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used45.9%
In darknesscrashes after dark36.8%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads98.5%

tick marks the California share. Bars are shares of fatal crashes (alcohol, speeding, darkness, rural) or of people killed (pedestrians, motorcyclists, unrestrained occupants) over the ten-year window.

"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.

Time of day and day of week

12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Fatal crashes in Inyo County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 67 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Saturday22%
Sunday18%
Friday16%
Thursday15%
Monday13%
Tuesday10%
Wednesday6%

Light condition

Daylight54%
Dark, not lighted31%
Dusk9%
Dark, lighted6%
Dawn0%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Other principal arterial40%
Minor arterial29%
Other freeways and expressways13%
Major collector9%
Local6%
Minor collector3%
Interstate0%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the California share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear90%
Cloudy6%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow4%
Rain0%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Fog, smog or smoke0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Inyo

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1US Route 395US highway3116722029%20%
2State Route 190State highway12313419%16%
3State Route 178State highway39410630%19%
4State Route 168State highway1424536%31%

Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.

By year, 2015–2024

YearFatal crashesDeathsDrinking-driver crashesPer 100,000
20241215381.1CA 2024
2023671–237.9CA 2023
2022912364.9CA 2022
2021331–216.2CA 2021
20208121–264.9CA 2020
20199121–264.9CA 2019
2018000—CA 2018
20179111–259.5CA 2017
2016771–237.9CA 2016
2015561–232.5CA 2015

Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule). Per-100,000 uses the 2024 population for every year in this table; the ten-year rate above uses each year's estimate.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Inyo County, California?

15 people died in 12 fatal crashes in 2024; 49 over 2020–2024 and 85 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Inyo compare with California?

46.3 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 10.1 for California and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Inyo involved alcohol?

22.1% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 27.9% in California. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 15.3%.

Which roads in Inyo see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, US Route 395 (31 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), State Route 190 (12 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 178 (3 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Inyo?

Most often between noon to 6pm (42% of crashes) and on Saturdays (22%); 36.8% happened after dark.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.