I-5 in California: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 1,214 fatal crashes on I-5 in California killed 1,396 people, the most of any numbered road in California. In 2024 there were 133 fatal crashes and 154 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 19 counties of California. All fatal crashes in California.
Deaths on I-5 in California by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 104 | 112 |
| 2016 | 108 | 126 |
| 2017 | 122 | 139 |
| 2018 | 126 | 160 |
| 2019 | 108 | 124 |
| 2020 | 120 | 131 |
| 2021 | 155 | 178 |
| 2022 | 132 | 149 |
| 2023 | 106 | 123 |
| 2024 | 133 | 154 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-5 in California: the counties with the most fatal crashes
San Diego County had the most fatal crashes on I-5 from 2015 to 2024: 237, with 262 deaths. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | 29 | 237 | 262 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | 25 | 221 | 251 |
| 3 | Orange | 15 | 126 | 136 |
| 4 | San Joaquin | 12 | 107 | 122 |
| 5 | Kern | 10 | 95 | 118 |
| 6 | Sacramento | 12 | 90 | 98 |
| 7 | Fresno | 2 | 46 | 61 |
| 8 | Merced | 7 | 39 | 46 |
| 9 | Siskiyou | 3 | 38 | 41 |
| 10 | Shasta | 5 | 36 | 39 |
| 11 | Stanislaus | 2 | 32 | 35 |
| 12 | Yolo | 2 | 31 | 40 |
| 13 | Tehama | 2 | 28 | 36 |
| 14 | Glenn | 2 | 27 | 34 |
| 15 | Colusa | 1 | 21 | 30 |
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-5 in California
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am, with 75 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 3 am to 4 am; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 5.8 percent, 69 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 24 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 41 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 3.0 percent, 35 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 32 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 3.1 percent, 37 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 34 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.9 percent, 34 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 33 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 3.7 percent, 44 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 30 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.8 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 43 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 6.3 percent, 75 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 41 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 30 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 29 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 34 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.0%
- Feb7.6%
- Mar9.1%
- Apr7.4%
- May7.7%
- Jun9.1%
- Jul8.2%
- Aug10.5%
- Sep8.4%
- Oct8.4%
- Nov8.6%
- Dec7.9%
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-5 in California first hit
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 444 | 37% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 323 | 27% |
| Pedestrian | 237 | 20% |
| Rollover | 126 | 10% |
| Parked vehicle | 44 | 3.6% |
| Other | 33 | 2.7% |
| Cyclist | 7 | 0.6% |
| 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-5 in California compare with the state
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of California. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-5 | California | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 37% | 30% | above the California share |
| At or near an intersection | 0.2% | 27% | below the California share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 39% | 25% | above the California share |
| A drinking driver | 27% | 28% | about the same as the California share |
| Speeding | 33% | 30% | above the California share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 39% | 38% | above the California share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.2% | 11% | below the California share |
| A motorcycle involved | 11% | 15% | below the California share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 20% | 26% | below the California share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Other roads in California with a page
All fatal crashes in California, with every road ranked.
Where the I-5 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-5 in California (filed under 35 spellings, such as "I-5", "I-5 SANTA ANA FWY", "I-5 (GOLDEN STATE FREEWAY)", "I-5 CASCADE WONDERLAND HWY"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.