I-280 in California: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 86 fatal crashes on I-280 in California killed 91 people, the 47th most of 255 numbered roads in California. In 2024 there were 9 fatal crashes and 10 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 3 counties of California. All fatal crashes in California. I-280 in every state.
Deaths on I-280 in California by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | 10 |
| 2023 | 14 | 15 |
| 2022 | 9 | 10 |
| 2021 | 11 | 11 |
| 2020 | 10 | 10 |
| 2019 | 8 | 8 |
| 2018 | 9 | 10 |
| 2017 | 4 | 5 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-280 in California: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Santa Clara County had the most fatal crashes on I-280 from 2015 to 2024: 39, with 42 deaths. Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Francisco counties together held 100% of fatal crashes on I-280 in California from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara County | 2 | 39 | 42 |
| 2 | San Mateo County | 6 | 32 | 34 |
| 3 | San Francisco County | 1 | 15 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on I-280 in California
84 fatal crashes on I-280 in California from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 10 pm to 11 pm; the worst month is March.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 8.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 9.5 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.4 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 7.1 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan9.3%
- Feb7.0%
- Mar12.8%
- Apr9.3%
- May3.5%
- Jun11.6%
- Jul10.5%
- Aug10.5%
- Sep7.0%
- Oct5.8%
- Nov5.8%
- Dec7.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on I-280 in California first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 38%; a collision with another vehicle in 26%, a pedestrian in 22%, a rollover in 4.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 33 | 38% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 22 | 26% |
| Pedestrian | 19 | 22% |
| Rollover | 4 | 4.7% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 3.5% |
| Other | 3 | 3.5% |
| Parked vehicle | 2 | 2.3% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on I-280 in California compare with the state
The largest difference from California: from 2015 to 2024, 0.0% of fatal crashes on I-280 in California were at or near an intersection, against 27% across California. Also above the California share: unlit roads at night. Below it: rural roads and motorcycles. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of California. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 86 crashes.
| I-280 | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 11% | 30% | below the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.0% | 27% | below the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 42% | 25% | above the California share |
| A drinking driver | 28% | 28% | about the same as the California share |
| Speeding | 29% | 30% | about the same as the California share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 2.3% | 4.1% | about the same as the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 31% | 38% | about the same as the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 15% | 11% | about the same as the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 4.7% | 15% | below the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 29% | 26% | about the same as the California share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes on I-280 in California
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-280 in California?
- 86 fatal crashes killed 91 people on I-280 in California from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 9 fatal crashes and 10 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on I-280 in California do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Santa Clara County had the most fatal crashes on I-280 from 2015 to 2024: 39, with 42 deaths. San Mateo County was second with 32.
Other roads in California with a page
All fatal crashes in California, with every road ranked.
Where the I-280 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-280 in California (filed under 6 spellings, such as "I-280", "I-280 JOHN T KNOX FWY", "I-280 JUNIPERO SERRA FWY", "I-280 JUNIPERO SIERRA FWY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.