Fatal Roads

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2019

California · year

California in 2019

Deaths 3,719Fatal crashes 3,427Per 100,000 9.4US deaths 36,355

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 2019.

In 2019, 3,719 people died in 3,427 fatal crashes in California, 9.4 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.1 nationally.

The death toll was about level between 2018 (3,798) and 2019 (3,719).

California accounted for 10.2% of the 36,355 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

26.2% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on other principal arterial roads (31%).

35% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 201820192020 →All years

Compared with 2018 and the nation

MeasureCalifornia 2019California 2018United States 2019
Deaths3,7193,79836,355
Fatal crashes3,4273,48533,487
Deaths per 100,000 residents9.49.611.1
Crashes with a drinking driver26%27%26%

Counties in 2019

Every county with a fatal crash in 2019, 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 County6797167.37,783
San Bernardino County29632114.53,509
Riverside County27129011.53,065
San Diego County2402537.72,735
Orange County1661825.72,088
Sacramento County15917210.71,757
Kern County13715316.61,808
Fresno County12313613.31,575
Santa Clara County1241316.81,195
San Joaquin County11011914.61,237
Alameda County88945.7965
Contra Costa County69776.6811
Stanislaus County667313.1830
Tulare County607014.5793
Merced County475418.2594
Ventura County45516.1576
Solano County434610.1465
Madera County353923.6348
San Francisco County34394.7356
Sonoma County38387.8389
Santa Barbara County33388.5380
Monterey County32358.0481
Shasta County323519.3328
Butte County333416.3382
San Luis Obispo County303311.7308
Imperial County293217.6323
San Mateo County29304.0369
El Dorado County272915.0240
Sutter County222929.4190
Yolo County242812.4278
Placer County24245.5334
Humboldt County202418.1249
Mendocino County212325.8224
Santa Cruz County20207.6214
Marin County19207.8122
Tehama County152031.0171
Napa County161712.8152
Kings County131610.3288
Amador County131535.7117
Lake County141420.7175
Yuba County131416.0159
Tuolumne County131324.1130
Inyo County91264.985
Calaveras County101123.7131
Colusa County81149.881
Del Norte County81140.776
Nevada County10109.8148
San Benito County101014.5113
Siskiyou County91023.5138
Trinity County8957.575
Mono County5861.648
Glenn County5724.782
Lassen County6621.290
Modoc County6670.730
Mariposa County4423.531
Plumas County3315.948
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

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

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday13%
Tuesday12%
Wednesday13%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday17%

Road type

Other principal arterial31%
Minor arterial22%
Interstate14%
Major collector11%
Other freeways and expressways11%
Local7%
Minor collector5%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in California in 2019?

3,719 people in 3,427 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2019 file, or 9.4 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in California had the most crash deaths in 2019?

Los Angeles County with 716 deaths in 679 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2019 compare with 2018 in California?

3,719 deaths against 3,798 in 2018 (+-2%). Nationally the 2019 total was 36,355.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2019 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.