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2002

California · year

California in 2002

Deaths 4,088Fatal crashes 3,654Per 100,000 11.7US deaths 43,005

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. Final FARS file for 2002.

In 2002, 4,088 people died in 3,654 fatal crashes in California, 11.7 deaths per 100,000 residents against 15.0 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2001 (3,956) and 2002 (4,088).

California accounted for 9.5% of the 43,005 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

39.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

32% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 200120022003 →All years

Compared with 2001 and the nation

MeasureCalifornia 2002California 2001United States 2002
Deaths4,0883,95643,005
Fatal crashes3,6543,54338,491
Deaths per 100,000 residents11.711.515.0
Crashes with a drinking driver39%38%36%

Counties in 2002

Every county with a fatal crash in 2002, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 58 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Los Angeles County6717247.47,783
San Bernardino County29433415.13,509
Riverside County27831412.43,065
San Diego County2793099.42,735
Orange County1791916.02,088
Fresno County15418217.81,575
Kern County14316417.81,808
San Joaquin County12515519.01,237
Sacramento County1401428.81,757
Santa Clara County1021125.81,195
Alameda County991106.7965
Tulare County859820.3793
Stanislaus County788815.8830
Contra Costa County66685.8811
Ventura County62688.1576
Merced County516120.6594
Monterey County475713.1481
Imperial County455027.5323
Sonoma County444910.1389
Butte County414722.6382
Placer County384510.4334
San Mateo County38445.9369
San Francisco County38394.7356
San Luis Obispo County323913.8308
Kings County333723.9288
Shasta County313720.4328
Solano County31378.1465
Madera County303319.9348
Santa Barbara County27306.7380
El Dorado County282915.0240
Mendocino County242831.4224
Humboldt County182418.1249
Santa Cruz County21238.8214
Yuba County212326.3159
Lake County192333.9175
Sutter County182222.3190
Tuolumne County172139.0130
Tehama County162031.0171
Yolo County18198.4278
Napa County151914.3152
Marin County17176.6122
Nevada County161615.7148
Amador County141535.7117
Plumas County121474.348
Mariposa County131376.331
Lassen County111345.990
Siskiyou County111125.9138
San Benito County91014.5113
Inyo County81054.185
Del Norte County8933.376
Colusa County7940.881
Glenn County7931.882
Calaveras County6612.9131
Trinity County6638.475
Mono County5646.248
Sierra County34128.514
Modoc County3335.330
Alpine County1–21–2—19

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am3.9%
1am4.2%
2am4.1%
3am3.1%
4am2.3%
5am3.3%
6am3.3%
7am3.1%
8am2.7%
9am2.8%
10am2.4%
11am3.6%
12pm4.3%
1pm4.3%
2pm4.6%
3pm5%
4pm5.2%
5pm6.1%
6pm5.8%
7pm5.3%
8pm5.8%
9pm5.5%
10pm4.6%
11pm4.7%

Weekday

Sunday18%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday11%
Friday16%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in California in 2002?

4,088 people in 3,654 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2002 file, or 11.7 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in California had the most crash deaths in 2002?

Los Angeles County with 724 deaths in 671 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2002 compare with 2001 in California?

4,088 deaths against 3,956 in 2001 (+3%). Nationally the 2002 total was 43,005.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2002 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.