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2008

California · year

California in 2008

Deaths 3,434Fatal crashes 3,145Per 100,000 9.4US deaths 37,423

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 2008.

In 2008, 3,434 people died in 3,145 fatal crashes in California, 9.4 deaths per 100,000 residents against 12.3 nationally.

The death toll fell 14% from 3,995 in 2007 to 3,434 in 2008.

California accounted for 9.2% of the 37,423 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

32.7% 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.

← 200720082009 →All years

Compared with 2007 and the nation

MeasureCalifornia 2008California 2007United States 2008
Deaths3,4343,99537,423
Fatal crashes3,1453,59134,172
Deaths per 100,000 residents9.411.012.3
Crashes with a drinking driver33%41%33%

Counties in 2008

Every county with a fatal crash in 2008, 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 County6647117.37,783
San Bernardino County26629313.23,509
San Diego County2482638.02,735
Riverside County22225310.03,065
Orange County1531635.12,088
Fresno County12813813.51,575
Kern County10411512.51,808
Santa Clara County941025.31,195
Sacramento County84915.61,757
San Joaquin County818910.91,237
Alameda County81875.3965
Tulare County687615.7793
Ventura County65769.1576
Contra Costa County60615.2811
Merced County515618.9594
Stanislaus County45549.7830
Monterey County404911.2481
Imperial County364625.3323
Sonoma County35387.8389
Santa Barbara County34378.3380
Madera County333621.8348
San Francisco County35354.2356
San Mateo County34354.7369
Solano County34357.7465
Kings County253421.9288
Butte County303215.4382
Santa Cruz County273011.4214
Placer County26296.7334
Mendocino County262730.3224
San Luis Obispo County26279.6308
El Dorado County232513.0240
Humboldt County242418.1249
Yolo County242410.7278
Shasta County202111.6328
Nevada County192019.6148
Napa County161914.3152
Sutter County151717.3190
Lake County151623.6175
Colusa County61672.581
Tehama County141421.7171
Yuba County111213.7159
Siskiyou County101125.9138
Calaveras County101021.5131
Inyo County91054.185
Glenn County9931.882
Lassen County8931.890
Marin County772.7122
Plumas County7737.248
Amador County6716.7117
Del Norte County6622.276
Trinity County6638.475
Mariposa County5529.331
Tuolumne County459.3130
Modoc County4447.130
San Benito County445.8113
Mono County3323.148
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

12am3.7%
1am4.6%
2am5.4%
3am2.6%
4am2.5%
5am3%
6am3%
7am3.2%
8am2.6%
9am2.9%
10am2.8%
11am3.3%
12pm4.1%
1pm4.4%
2pm4.6%
3pm5.2%
4pm4.5%
5pm5%
6pm6.2%
7pm4.9%
8pm5.9%
9pm5.2%
10pm5.2%
11pm5.1%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday11%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday11%
Thursday12%
Friday17%
Saturday19%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in California in 2008?

3,434 people in 3,145 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2008 file, or 9.4 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in California had the most crash deaths in 2008?

Los Angeles County with 711 deaths in 664 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2008 compare with 2007 in California?

3,434 deaths against 3,995 in 2007 (+-14%). Nationally the 2008 total was 37,423.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2008 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.