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2005

California · year

California in 2005

Deaths 4,333Fatal crashes 3,849Per 100,000 12.1US deaths 43,510

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 2005.

In 2005, 4,333 people died in 3,849 fatal crashes in California, 12.1 deaths per 100,000 residents against 14.7 nationally.

The death toll rose 5% from 4,120 in 2004 to 4,333 in 2005.

California accounted for 10% of the 43,510 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

37.8% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

31% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 200420052006 →All years

Compared with 2004 and the nation

MeasureCalifornia 2005California 2004United States 2005
Deaths4,3334,12043,510
Fatal crashes3,8493,72739,252
Deaths per 100,000 residents12.111.614.7
Crashes with a drinking driver38%39%35%

Counties in 2005

Every county with a fatal crash in 2005, 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 County7017507.77,783
San Bernardino County36342719.33,509
Riverside County30433313.23,065
San Diego County2773099.42,735
Orange County1892036.42,088
Kern County15317819.31,808
Fresno County14016416.01,575
Sacramento County15516210.11,757
San Joaquin County11512415.21,237
Tulare County9611523.8793
Santa Clara County931065.51,195
Alameda County921056.4965
Stanislaus County8410318.5830
Contra Costa County69776.6811
Ventura County63718.5576
Santa Barbara County617015.7380
Merced County546822.9594
Sonoma County516713.8389
Monterey County465512.6481
San Luis Obispo County465519.5308
Solano County424910.8465
Imperial County414826.4323
Kings County434730.3288
Placer County384410.1334
Mendocino County313842.6224
Shasta County303821.0328
Madera County343722.4348
San Mateo County33375.0369
Butte County323516.8382
San Francisco County31334.0356
Tuolumne County192546.4130
Santa Cruz County23249.1214
Yolo County222410.7278
Sutter County212424.4190
El Dorado County222311.9240
Napa County192317.3152
Humboldt County192015.1249
Yuba County162022.9159
Amador County151945.2117
Nevada County151817.6148
Lassen County111552.990
Tehama County141421.7171
Lake County131420.7175
Plumas County131369.048
San Benito County131318.8113
Calaveras County121225.8131
Inyo County101159.585
Marin County10114.3122
Del Norte County91037.076
Colusa County81045.381
Siskiyou County8921.2138
Trinity County7851.175
Glenn County6724.782
Sierra County55160.614
Mariposa County4423.531
Mono County3430.848
Alpine County33273.019
Modoc County1–21–2—30

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

12am4.2%
1am4.8%
2am5.1%
3am3.2%
4am2.3%
5am2.9%
6am3.7%
7am3.4%
8am2.4%
9am2.7%
10am2.9%
11am3.1%
12pm3.7%
1pm3.8%
2pm5%
3pm5.2%
4pm4.7%
5pm5.7%
6pm5.6%
7pm5%
8pm5.3%
9pm5.6%
10pm5.1%
11pm4.4%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday11%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday12%
Friday16%
Saturday19%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in California in 2005?

4,333 people in 3,849 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2005 file, or 12.1 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in California had the most crash deaths in 2005?

Los Angeles County with 750 deaths in 701 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2005 compare with 2004 in California?

4,333 deaths against 4,120 in 2004 (+5%). Nationally the 2005 total was 43,510.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2005 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.