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2004

California · year

California in 2004

Deaths 4,120Fatal crashes 3,727Per 100,000 11.6US deaths 42,836

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 2004.

In 2004, 4,120 people died in 3,727 fatal crashes in California, 11.6 deaths per 100,000 residents against 14.6 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2003 (4,224) and 2004 (4,120).

California accounted for 9.6% of the 42,836 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.

← 200320042005 →All years

Compared with 2003 and the nation

MeasureCalifornia 2004California 2003United States 2004
Deaths4,1204,22442,836
Fatal crashes3,7273,73138,444
Deaths per 100,000 residents11.612.014.6
Crashes with a drinking driver39%37%34%

Counties in 2004

Every county with a fatal crash in 2004, 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 County7067537.77,783
San Bernardino County34840618.33,509
Riverside County29332112.73,065
San Diego County2822999.12,735
Orange County2012126.72,088
Fresno County13414814.51,575
Kern County12414515.71,808
Sacramento County1271318.11,757
San Joaquin County11412415.21,237
Alameda County951016.1965
Tulare County8510020.7793
Santa Clara County83884.61,195
Monterey County658719.9481
Stanislaus County738014.4830
Ventura County66708.4576
Contra Costa County57675.7811
Merced County546220.9594
Imperial County485731.4323
Sonoma County454910.1389
San Luis Obispo County454817.0308
Solano County364710.3465
Madera County414426.6348
Santa Barbara County37449.9380
San Francisco County38435.2356
San Mateo County37405.4369
Kings County303824.5288
Shasta County353720.4328
Butte County323416.3382
Placer County30337.6334
Yolo County212912.9278
El Dorado County272714.0240
Napa County242518.8152
Tehama County242437.2171
Humboldt County202317.4249
Sutter County192323.3190
Lassen County182174.190
Calaveras County172145.2131
Nevada County161918.6148
Lake County161826.6175
Santa Cruz County17176.5214
Tuolumne County131629.7130
Mendocino County141516.8224
Amador County121228.6117
Siskiyou County121228.2138
Yuba County121213.7159
Marin County11124.7122
Trinity County111170.375
Glenn County81138.982
Colusa County71149.881
San Benito County81014.5113
Del Norte County71037.076
Mariposa County8846.931
Inyo County7737.985
Mono County6646.248
Plumas County4526.548
Modoc County3335.330
Sierra County3396.414
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%
1am4.1%
2am4.4%
3am3%
4am2.6%
5am3.1%
6am3.4%
7am2.9%
8am2.8%
9am2.4%
10am2.9%
11am3.2%
12pm4.1%
1pm3.9%
2pm4.4%
3pm5.8%
4pm5.2%
5pm6%
6pm6.1%
7pm5.3%
8pm5.7%
9pm6.1%
10pm4.8%
11pm3.9%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday12%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday12%
Thursday14%
Friday16%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in California in 2004?

4,120 people in 3,727 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2004 file, or 11.6 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in California had the most crash deaths in 2004?

Los Angeles County with 753 deaths in 706 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2004 compare with 2003 in California?

4,120 deaths against 4,224 in 2003 (+-2%). Nationally the 2004 total was 42,836.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2004 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.