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2009

California · year

California in 2009

Deaths 3,090Fatal crashes 2,825Per 100,000 8.4US deaths 33,883

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 2009.

In 2009, 3,090 people died in 2,825 fatal crashes in California, 8.4 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.0 nationally.

The death toll fell 10% from 3,434 in 2008 to 3,090 in 2009.

California accounted for 9.1% of the 33,883 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

33.6% 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.

← 200820092010 →All years

Compared with 2008 and the nation

MeasureCalifornia 2009California 2008United States 2009
Deaths3,0903,43433,883
Fatal crashes2,8253,14530,862
Deaths per 100,000 residents8.49.411.0
Crashes with a drinking driver34%33%33%

Counties in 2009

Every county with a fatal crash in 2009, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 57 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Los Angeles County5565906.07,783
San Bernardino County22824110.93,509
San Diego County2202327.02,735
Riverside County2082248.93,065
Kern County12915817.11,808
Orange County1411544.92,088
Fresno County10212111.81,575
Sacramento County991096.81,757
Santa Clara County83874.51,195
Tulare County627415.3793
Alameda County62714.3965
Contra Costa County67685.8811
San Joaquin County56637.71,237
Ventura County57627.4576
Stanislaus County545710.2830
Merced County455317.9594
San Francisco County39394.7356
San Mateo County36395.2369
Sonoma County33398.0389
Santa Barbara County32398.8380
Imperial County303720.4323
Monterey County27358.0481
San Luis Obispo County293211.4308
Madera County273118.7348
Solano County29296.4465
Mendocino County262932.5224
Kings County272818.1288
Santa Cruz County23269.9214
Humboldt County212619.6249
Placer County24255.8334
Shasta County242413.3328
Butte County222311.0382
El Dorado County202311.9240
Tuolumne County161833.4130
Amador County131330.9117
Yolo County13135.8278
Yuba County111314.9159
Nevada County121211.7148
Lake County111217.7175
Tehama County111218.6171
Calaveras County91225.8131
Napa County9129.0152
Colusa County101045.381
Marin County10103.9122
Mariposa County9952.831
Siskiyou County8921.2138
Sutter County888.1190
Glenn County7724.782
Del Norte County6622.276
Inyo County5632.585
San Benito County457.2113
Trinity County4425.675
Lassen County3310.690
Plumas County3315.948
Modoc County1–21–2—30
Sierra County1–21–2—14
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

12am4.5%
1am4.2%
2am4.7%
3am3.3%
4am2.7%
5am3.7%
6am3.4%
7am3.1%
8am2.8%
9am2.6%
10am2.8%
11am3.5%
12pm3.3%
1pm4.3%
2pm4%
3pm4.7%
4pm4.5%
5pm6.4%
6pm5.9%
7pm5.7%
8pm5.8%
9pm4.8%
10pm4.3%
11pm4.6%

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday12%
Thursday13%
Friday15%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in California in 2009?

3,090 people in 2,825 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2009 file, or 8.4 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in California had the most crash deaths in 2009?

Los Angeles County with 590 deaths in 556 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2009 compare with 2008 in California?

3,090 deaths against 3,434 in 2008 (+-10%). Nationally the 2009 total was 33,883.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2009 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.